Creating Wealth from Rehabilitation of Kwale Mineral Sands Mine: Ideas for Post Mining Land Use

Prof Hamadi Iddi Boga

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Introduction

I am writing this article with the intention of triggering a debate and a reflection on the post mining land use of the over 6000 acres which will be left behind by BTL after mine closure.

Which way forward?  The Kwale people must talk to themselves and explore progressive proposals that will add value to the land and create more opportunities for socio-economic development.

This write up will be in three parts to allow people to reflect and digest and debate.

I should first declare that, I was once tasked with starting the Taita Taveta University, which successfully established the Centre for Mining and Mineral Processing (CEMEREM) with the support of the Government, and it was accepted as the National Mining Institute.

When we started, I had only a team of four mining professionals (all at MSc level) to start us off, as we speak, we have hundreds of them including PhDs, some running the Base Titanium Limited Operations like Eng Nzomo.

Mwabwagizo, Eng. Biasha Zito, Eng. Bakari Mwafrika and others are scattered across the globe na Siringi.

So let  us get into Part I which will focus on general issues to lay the ground for the proposals that will follow:

Part I: General Considerations and Laying the ground for a responsible mine closure and post mining Land Use Planning by Base Titanium Limited.

The Base Titanium mineral sands mining project in Kwale, Kenya, was one of the largest mineral sands deposits in Africa.

Base Titanium Limited is a subsidiary of Base Resources Limited, an Australian company that started operations in Kenya in 2013.

The project involves the extraction of minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, and zircon from the Kwale mineral sands deposits located in the coastal region of Kenya.

As of September 2021, the Base Titanium mineral sands mining project in Kwale, Kenya, employed over 1,400 people directly and indirectly.

Base Titanium Mining project has provided various community benefits in the Kwale region. Some of these benefits include social investment programs, Community development projects, Environmental conservation and Economic development.

In Kenya, the regulatory requirements for post-mining land use planning are governed by various laws, regulations, and guidelines.

Some of the key regulatory requirements for post-mining land use planning in Kenya include the Constitution of Kenya, the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) 1999 and its regulations, the Mining Act 2016 and its regulations, guidelines by the National Land Commission, the Land Act, County Government Regulations and International Best Practices. The law must be followed.

Poor post-mining land use planning can have significant environmental, social, and economic consequences for the communities.

Some of the risks associated with inadequate or ineffective post-mining land use planning include soil degradation, possible water contamination, habitat destruction, land Instability, negative social impacts as well as legal and financial liabilities.

Overall, the risks of poor post-mining land use planning underscore the importance of proactive and responsible land rehabilitation practices. 

Effective planning and implementation of post-mining land use strategies are essential to mitigate these risks and ensure sustainable land use for future generations.

There are examples to showcase the importance of careful planning, monitoring, and remediation in mining land use projects to prevent or mitigate negative impacts on the environment and local communities.

By learning from these failures, stakeholders can better understand the complexities of post-mining land use and work towards more sustainable and responsible mining practices in the future.  

There are also examples that demonstrate that with careful planning, community engagement, and commitment to sustainable practices, post-mining land use projects can successfully rehabilitate former mining sites, restore ecosystems, and create new opportunities for economic and social development, which is what Kwale people want.

Conclusions

The Kwale people have a right to a robust informed engagement around the closure and planning of the Base Titanium Limited Mining site.

The team and approach proposed by the former CS for Mining Hon Salim Mvurya would not deliver that in my view.

Further, the role of the Ministry of Mining is to issue Mining Licenses and Mineral rights. Land Use Planning is the responsibility of the County Government and the National Land Commission. 

BTL has informed the Ministry of Mining that the ore is about to be exhausted, hence the cabinet secretary responsible for mining should just have  informed the County government and the NLC that they should start the process of PMLU planning and prepare to take over the land for further action as guided by relevant laws.

So I am calling upon the County Government and the NLC to wake up and take charge of the process.

Part II will focus on the proposed approach to post mining land use planning.

Prof Boga ~ former Agriculture principal secretary and Kwale County resident