Operations at Moma Titanium Minerals Mine suspended following fatality.

Mining company Kenmare Resources has suspended all operations at the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine in northern Mozambique following a fatality at the site on Monday 31 August 2020. The mineworker, described as a front-end loader operator, was found dead with crush injuries at a 'wet concentrator plant' on the site. The mine will remain inactive while an investigation is carried out.

 

 

A wet concentrator plant at the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine in northern Mozambique. Kenmare Resources

 

The Moma Titanium Minerals Mine extracts titanium in the form of ilmenite and rutile and zirconium in the form of zircon from sand deposits close to the Indian Ocean coast. The area is stripped of topsoil and vegetation and then flooded to create artificial mining ponds. Sand is then dredged from the bottom of these and sent to a series of wet concentration plants where it is sorted by the rejection of larger chunks then sorting the heavier minerals from the lighter sand and clay using gravity. The mining operation targets a dune environment, progressively moving along the coast, with dunes being recontoured behind the moving operation and planted with native vegetation and food crops. About 3% of the sand is removed as usable minerals. The mine is thought to have reserves of about 26 million tonnes of ilmenite, 1.8 million tonnes of zircon and 0.55 million tonnes of rutile, making it the largest titanium deposit currently being worked anywhere in the world. It is expected to remain in operation till about 2120.

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Collapse at illegal sand mine in Kisumu County, Kenya, kills two children.

Two children have died following a collapse at an illegal sand mine in Kisumu County in western Kenya on Saturday 29 September 2018. The bodies were recovered by police after they were alerted to the incident by local residents and taken to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital. The deceased have been identified as pupils at the Nyambo Primary School and Orongo Secondary School. Several other people working at the mine are reported to have fled the scene after collapse, including a relative of the dead children who was apparently in charge of the operation.

The scene of an illegal sand mine in Kisumu County, Kenya, where two children died in a collapse on 29 September 2018. Denish Ochieng/Standard.

Denish Ochieng/Standard
Read more at: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001297280/locals-retrieve-two-bodies-of-minors-buried-in-a-collapsed-sand-mine

This is the latest in a series of incidents at illegal sand mines in Kenya recently, fuelled by a demand for the material for the construction industry, Such mines often use child labour, as children will generally work for less than adults, and seldom take any form of health and safety considerations into account. 

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Homes threatened by landslide in Delta State, Nigeria.

A number of homes are threatened by erosion after a landslip left them close to a cliff edge in the town of Tuomo in Delta State, Nigeria, on Sunday 25 March 2018. The town is located on a cliff above the River Focados, a tributary of the Niger, and it is this cliff-face which has given way, exposing several homes to risk.

Homes threatened by landslip in Delta State. Nigeria, on 25 March 2018. Vanguard Nigeria.

The sandstone cliffs above the Focados at Tuomo are known to be prone to erosion from the action of the river, which tends to wash away sediments from the base of the cliffs, causing them to collapse. To this end the cliffs in the town have been protected by a concrete shore protection wall. However on this occasion the wall itself appears to have been undermined, leading to the 25 March collapse, with some residents claiming that this was helped by people mining sand from the beach beneath the wall for use in the construction industry, thereby weakening the defensive wall.

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town of Tuomo

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/villagers-flee-landslide-wrecks-havoc-delta-community/

town of Tuomo

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/villagers-flee-landslide-wrecks-havoc-delta-community/

Landslide kills three illegal sandminers in Makueni County, Kenya.

Three people have died and two more were seriously injured following a landslide at Kiongwani in Makueni County, in the Eastern Region of Kenya, at about 5.30 am local time on Tuesday 19 December 2017. The men were excavating sand from a bank of the River Kwa Muvai onto the back of a truck, when part of the sandface, which had been weakened by heavy rain, collapsed onto them. Landslides are are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall. Two of the men were dug out alive and taken to a local hospital, but the others could not be saved. A sixth man, thought to have been the driver of the truck, fled the scene on foot.

Rescue workers at the scene of the 19 December 2017 Kiongwani landslide. NTV.

The men had reportedly arrived at the site of the accident at about midnight, in order to extract sand from the riverbank under cover of darkness. Extracting sand from river banks or beds is illegal in Kenya, as it can lead to problems with flooding and erosion, and potentially even alter the courses of rivers. However the industry is also extremely profitable, leading to surreptitious extraction and occasional confrontations with authorities; one such incident resulted in the death of a police officer in February this year.

The approximate location of the 19 December 2017 Kiongwani landslide. Google Maps.

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Illegal miner arrested in Free State, South Africa.

A man, described as a Zimbabwean national, has been arrested for illegal mining at Welkom in Free State, South Africa, according to the South African Police Service. He was apparently one of a number of men discovered by a patrol on Tuesday 5 November 2013, working in an area of dunes, the other men fleeing and escaping the patrol. A quantity of mining equipment was also seized, an three other men were later arrested at Thabong, to the east of Johannesburg, on migration related charges.

The approximate location of the illegal mining operation. Google Maps.

South Africa has a long history of strife over mining, largely relating to the exploitation of resources by large foreign companies and the relatively poor remuneration of mineworkers and communities that have lost land to mines, disputes that are intimately connected to the long term struggle against against the Apartheid system in the country. However illegal mining is seen as a relatively new problem, which authorities have yet to catch up with. As well as being a loss of revenue to the state, illegal mines do not comply with South Africa's environmental and health and safety laws, and can therefore present a threat to communities close to the operations, as well as miners employed at the sites, particularly if gold is being worked, since the quickest and cheapest way to separate gold from ore involves the use of (highly toxic) mercury. Aggregates (sand and gravel) used in the building industry are also considered a problem, as indiscriminate mining can lead to the destruction of natural habitats and farmland, as well as hastening soil and river erosion.

See also One worker killed and three others injured at Marikana Platinum Mine, Rustenburg, South Africa, Worker killed at the Bokoni Platinum Mine in South Africa's Limpopo Province, Human Rights Watch reports on child labour in the Tanzanian gold mining industry, Union official assassinated at Lonmin's Marikana Platinum Mine and Officials attacked by illegal sand-miners in Himachal Pradesh.

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Officials attacked by illegal sand-miners in Himachal Pradesh.

A police car carrying a Sub-Divisional Magistrate was repeatedly rammed by a tractor towing a trailer-load of aggregates during a raid on an illegal sand-mine at Nalagarth in Himchal Pradesh. The driver of the tractor, Makhan Singh, was apparently trying to overturn the trailer over onto the vehicle carrying the magistrate, Yunus Khan, but was eventually overcome and captured by police. A second vehicle was apparently able to escape while this occurred.

An illegal sand-mine in Himchal Pradesh. IBN.

India currently has a large demand for sand, fueled by a boom in the construction industry, however much of this comes from illegal sources, which often involves sand extraction from the banks or beds of rivers, leading to problems with flooding and erosion. Authorities in many parts of the country have struggled to come to terms with this problem, particularly as in some parts of the country prominent local politicians appear to be heavily involved in the industry. The issue has come to a head in the past two weeks following the suspension of Durga Shakti Nagpal, a young Indian Administrative Service Officer who had confronted an illegal sand-mining 'maffia' in Uttar Pradesh, allegedly at the request of a local politician with links to the industry, which has provoked a widespread public outcry.

Yunus Khan has confirmed that he has received death threats in the past over his attempts to combat illegal mining in Himchal Pradesh, but also to point out that there has never been any attempt to impede him by politicians in the state.

The approximate location of the Nalagarth illegal sand mine. Google Maps. 

See also Indian Government sets up inquiry into illegal sand mining in Uttar Pradesh, Two workers killed in landslide at Bihar quarry, Hundreds feared dead after collapse of Chorabari Glacier, Three workers killed in landslide at Mumbai quarry and Human Rights Watch reports on mining in India.

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Indian Government sets up inquiry into illegal sand mining in Uttar Pradesh.

The Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests has formed a three person committee to investigate illegal sand mining in Uttar Pradesh State, following the issue being raised directly with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance and leader of the Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi. The move comes following the Uttar Pradesh State Government's suspension of Durga Shakti Nagpal, a young Indian Administrative Service Officer who had confronted an illegal sand-mining 'maffia' in the Gautam Buddha Nagar District of the state, which has provoked a widespread public outcry.

Durga Shakti Nagpal, suspended by the Uttar Pradesh State Government after confronting an illegal sand-mining 'maffia'. Jagran Post.

Illegal sand mining for the building industry, largely through dredging from rivers, is a major environmental problem in northern India, where it has been attributed with changing the courses of the Yamuna and Ganges rivers, as well as contributing to a series of flooding and erosional problems. Dredging sand from a river bed is likely to increase the flow rate, increasing the dangers of erosion and flooding downriver. The industry is thought to be worth about ₨500 crore (US$85 million) million a year, with attempts to police it being hampered by heavy involvement in the industry by a number of prominent politicians.

Sand miners on a river bed in Uttar Pradesh. The highly seasonal Indian climate means that riverbeds are accessible to miners without specialized equipment at certain times of the year. Shailendra Pandey/Tehelka Daily.

Following complaints by environmental groups Nagpal was asked to look into the problem in Gautam Buddha Nagar District by the state government. She organized a major clampdown on the industry, involving revenue, police and transport officials, resulting in the impounding of 297 vehicles and the imposition of ₨82 34 000 in fines since April 2013.

The approximate location of Gautam Buddha Nagar District, to the southeast of New Delhi. Google Maps.

On 25 July 2013 Ashish Kumar, the Mining Officer of the Gautam Buddha Nagar District and a key supporter of Durga Shakti Nagpal, who had already survived several assassination attempts, was transfered to Bulandshahr District by the Uttar Pradesh State Government, and on 26 July an assassination attempt directly targeted Nagpal at Kasna Police Station. Two days later Nagpal was herself suspended by the State Government.

Nagpal was accused of demolishing the wall of a mosque at Kadalpur Village, though supporters have claimed she visited the site to advise villagers that the mosque could not be built without planning permission. A video later emerged of Narendra Bhati, leader of the Samajwadi Party in the State Government, boasting that he was responsible for the suspension. 

Durga Shakti Nagpal's suspension has provoked widespread protests in Uttar Pradesh and a public outcry across much of India. The police investigation into illegal mining in Gautam Buddh Nagar District has effectively stalled since Nagpal's removal, but there have been a number of confrontations between local villagers and sand mining gangs, suggesting that the operation enjoyed genuine local support.

Members of the All India Democratic Women's Association marching in support of Durga Shakti Nagpal in Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh state capital, on Saturday 3 August 2013. The Hindu.

The Government of India has already requested a formal explanation of the suspension and events leading up to it from the Uttar Pradesh State Government, and has not followed this by starting formal investigations into the sand mining industry in the state. The investigating committee will report back to the Ministry on 9 August, when further action may be decided upon.

See also Two workers killed in landslide at Bihar quarry, Hundreds feared dead after collapse of Chorabari Glacier, Three workers killed in landslide at Mumbai quarry and Human Rights Watch reports on mining in India.

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