“Environmental Management of Mines”, a 12 day training programme in the PanAfGeo project was held in Dakar, Senegal, 3-14 July, 2017.
21 professionals from Burkina-Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger and Senegal took part in the training. The training was jointly organised by the Geological Survey of Sweden and the “Direction de la Prospection et de la Promotion Minière (Senegal). The training received more than 50 applications from staff at geological services in the region. The applicants selected for the training represented several different organisational units at the surveys and had a varied background comprising environmental specialists, mining engineers and geologists.
Lectures and training session were held by a team of professionals from Senegal, Mali, Denmark and Sweden. Dr. Seydou Keita (Mali), Prof. Serigne Faye, Dr. Samba Rokhaya, Director Rosaline Mbaye, Dr. Birane Niane (all Senegal), John Tychsen (Denmark) and Mattias Fackel (Sweden).
Lectures of geosciences and environmental management were throughout the training integrated in daily group exercises and analysises. The theme of the training was above all how the treated subjects are integrated at the workplaces and in the geological surveys. How is environmental management part of the day to day work of the participants? What are the possibilites and challenges? Which regulations, policies, organisations, collaborations and interactions are available or could be developed? All participants presented their organisations and a national review of environmental management of mines.
The participants rated and evaluated environmental risks, management practices and organisatinal challenges. The participants analysed and illustrated the legal framework, organisation of and interactions of environmental management of mines in their countries. Several examples from current mining projects were presented. In particular examples of rehabilitation, mine closure, public participation and stake holder interaction in mining projects were appreciated and discussed. Lectures, group exercises, field visits and discussions were at the end fused into an action plan for each participant to take home.
Some of the subjects were:
– the regional legal framework,
– mine rehabilitation and mine closure,
– environmental impact assessment,
– small scale mining and the environment,
– acid rock drainage and waste management,
– hydrogeology, water and mines,
– mercury and cyanide in gold mining,
– public participation, sustainability and post-mining projects.
Site visits took the participants to the Lam-Lam phosphate deposits and to Grand Côtes Operations’ heavy mineral sands project. Many thanks to the management and staff at Grand Côtes Operations SA, Sephos SA and African Investments Group for sharing their experiences in environmental management of mines and showing how it is implemented at their operations.
Download the official Press Release to learn more about the training
