The government has begun reviewing an updated closure plan for AngloGold Ashanti’s Geita Gold Mine (GGM), with authorities focusing on environmental restoration and the economic future of communities that depend on the mine.
The National Mine Closure Committee held a meeting at the mine in Geita Region to assess whether the updated plan meets legal requirements for the eventual closure and rehabilitation of the mining site.
The review is aimed at ensuring that mining does not leave behind environmental damage or economically vulnerable communities when operations eventually end.
National Mine Closure Committee chairman Hamisi Kamando said large and medium-scale mines are required by law to prepare closure plans for government review and approval.
He said the plans must provide clear measures for rehabilitating areas affected by mining and ensuring that surrounding communities can continue with economic activities after the mine closes.
“Mine closure should restore the environment to a condition similar to what existed before mining,” Mr Kamando said.
He added that the committee was also concerned with ensuring communities living around mining areas are prepared for life after mining operations.
The review is being conducted under the Mining Act, the 2010 Mining (Safety, Occupational Health and Environmental Protection) Regulations and the 2019 Mine Closure Regulations.
Under Regulation 206 of the 2010 regulations, mine owners are required to prepare closure plans and submit them to the Chief Inspector of Mines for technical review before they are considered by the National Mine Closure Committee.
The committee brings together experts from the Vice President’s Office, ministries responsible for Water, Natural Resources and Tourism, and Minerals, as well as the National Land Use Planning Commission, National Environment Management Council (NEMC), University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Mining Commission and Geita District authorities.
The government’s approach places greater emphasis on planning for the end of mining operations rather than waiting until a mine is about to close before addressing environmental and social impacts.
GGM environmental manager Yusuph Mhando told the committee that the mine’s closure plan had considered environmental protection, safety, health and the interests of surrounding communities.
He said the mine management would implement recommendations made by the committee and continue cooperating with authorities throughout the review process.
The exercise comes as Tanzania seeks to strengthen oversight of mining operations and ensure that communities and the environment are protected beyond the productive life of individual mines.