Community perceptions on socio-economic impacts of uranium exploration in Selous Ecosystem, Tanzania
Résumé
Large-scale mining has positive and negative effects that impact people differently leading to varying perceptions. This study assessed perceptions of local communities on socio-economic impacts of uranium exploration in Selous Ecosystem, Tanzania. The study was guided by three main research questions (i) Are local communities aware of the impacts of uranium exploration? (ii) What are the socio-economic impacts of uranium exploration? and (iii) What are perceptions of local communities on uranium impacts? A simple random sampling technique was used to select 51 households for questionnaire survey. Additionally, 22 key informants were interviewed and 2 focus group discussions were conducted. Moreover, secondary information such as government policies, legislations, and previous published and unpublished reports were reviewed. The quantitative information was analysed through Statistical Package for Social Science. For the purpose of this study, descriptive statistics was used while qualitative information was analysed using content analysis technique. In terms of awareness, 51% were unaware on negative impacts of uranium mining. The positive socio-economic impacts reported were employment opportunities, improved quality of life, road accessibility and economic opportunities. However, the majority of people interviewed (70 %) claimed that they have not received individual benefits from uranium exploration activities. Perception differed significantly, with 72% of those employed in the mine having positive perceptions, compared to 62% of the unemployed individuals who had negative perceptions. This study recommends a community-based bottom-up approach for awareness raising on uranium impacts. In addition, the mining company should implement effectively its corporate social responsibilities because, the negative perceptions may stand as a hindrance for accomplishment of its goals. The findings of this study provide preliminary baseline for future studies to monitor the impacts of uranium in particular radioactivity pathways associated with uranium mining
##plugins.generic.usageStats.downloads##
Références
Aigbedion, I., & Iyayi, S.E. (2007). Environmental effect of mineral exploitation in Nigeria. International Journal of Physical Sciences 2 (2):33–38
Banzi, F.P., Msaki, P., & Mohammed, N. (2014). Challenging issues in regulating uranium mining in Tanzania. Proceedings of 7th International Conference of Uranium Mining and Hydrogeology. Freiberg), Springer, Heidelberg.
Bebbington, A., Hinojosa, L., Bebbington, D.H., Burneo, M.L., & Waarnars, X. (2008). Contention and Ambiguity: Mining and the Possibilities of Development. Development and Change 39(66), 887 - 914.
Bud, I., Duma, S., Denu, ţI., & Taşcu, I. (2007). Water pollution due to mining activity. Causes and consequences. BHM Berg- und Hüttenmännische Monatshefte 152(10):326–328. doi:10.1007/ s00501-007-0321-x
Dagvadorj, L., Byamba, B., & Ishikawa, M. (2018). Effect of local community’s environmental perception on trust in a mining company: a case study in Mongolia. Sustainability 10(3):3. doi:10.3390/ su10030614.
Dikgwatlhe, P., & Mulenga, F.K. (2023). Perceptions of local communities regarding the impacts of mining on employment and economic activities in South Africa. Resources Policy 80(1):103138. doi:10.1016/j.resourpol.2022.103138.
EIA Report (2012). Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Proposed Uranium Mining Project Version 3. Mantra Tanzania Limited, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Fisher, E. (2007). Occupying the Margins: Labour Integration and Social Exclusion in Artisanal Mining in Tanzania. Development and Change 38(4):735 – 760. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7660.2007.00431.x
Githiria, J.M., & Onifade, M. (2020). The impact of mining on sustainable practices and the traditional culture of developing countries. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences10: 394–410
Gyekye, A.S. (2006). Workplace safety perceptions: miners’ and nonminers’ perspectives. Professional Safety 7, 34–40
Haddaway N.R., Cooke S.J., Lesser P., Macura B., Nilsson A.E., & Taylor J.J. (2019). Evidence of the impacts of metal mining and the effectiveness of mining mitigation measures on social – ecological systems in Arctic and boreal regions: a systematic map protocol. Environmental Evidence 1–11.
Kideghesho, J.R., & Abdallah, J.M. (2010). Assessment of the potential impacts of uranium mining and upgrading of the corridor road in the Selous - Niassa Wildlife Protection Corridor project area. Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania, Study Report No. 11: 9 - 36.
Kitula, A.G.N. (2006). The environmental and socio - economic impacts of mining on local livelihoods in Tanzania: A case study of Geita District. Journal of Cleaner Production, 14 (33 – 4): 405 - 414.
Labonne, B., & Gilman, J. (1999), ‘Towards building sustainable livelihoods in the artisanal mining communities’, paper presented at the Tripartite Meeting on Social and Labour Issues in Small-Scale Mines, ILO, Geneva, pp 17–21.
Leonard, L., & Lebogang, T. (2018). Exploring the impacts of mining on tourism growth and local sustainability: the case of Mapungubwe Heritage Site, Limpopo, South Africa. Sustainable Development, 26, (3): 206-216. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.1695
Lugoe, F. (2012). Governance in Mining areas in Tanzania with special reference to Land issues. The Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) Discussion Paper No. 4.
Maest, A., Kuipers, J., MacHardy, K., &Lawson G. (2006). Predicted versus actual water quality at hardrock mine sites: effect of inherent geochemical and hydrologic characteristics. JASMR. doi:10. 21000/JASMR06021122.
Mbogoro, D.K., & Mwakipesile, A. (2010). Economical and environmental impacts of the proposed uranium mining in the Bahi Swamp area. Civil Education is the Solution for Poverty and Environmental Management (CESOPE), 35 p.
Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM) (2010). The Mining (Radioactive Minerals) Regulations, MEM, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Moffat, K., Lacey, J., Boughen, N., Carr-Cornish, S., & Rodriguez, M. (2018). Understanding the social acceptance of mining. In: Lodhia, S. (ed), Mining and Sustainable Development: current Issues. London: Rouledge; p. 45–62
Morris, N., & Baartjes, N. (2010). The Social Impact of Diamond Mining- Is it time to revisit the scorecard? South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Diamonds: (pp. 293-301). Johannesburg.
MSL (2011). Mkuju River Project Definitive Feasibility Study. Project Team Report, Tanzania.
Muhanga, M. (2019). An examination of some key issues on legal and policy environment in the mining sector after the economic reforms in Tanzania. International and Public Affairs 3(2):33-42
NBS (2022). The 2022 Population and Housing Census (PHC) of 2022 for the United Republic of Tanzania. NBS, Tanzania
Novianantya A.C., Fardany N.K., & Nuraini Y. (2017). Improvement of sweet potato yield using mixtures of ground fish bone and plant residues. Journal of Degraded and Mine Lands Management 4 (2):759–765.
Novianti, V., Choesin D.N., Iskandar D.T., & Suprayogo D. (2017). Plant species from coal mine overburden dumping site in Satui, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Journal of Degraded and Mine Lands Management 4(4)
Ramoshaba, M. (2019). Host communities’ perceptions about mining companies in the Govan Mbeki Municipal Area, Mpumalanga Province. MBA Dissertation, University of Limpopo
Schultz R. (2021). Investigating the health impacts of the Ranger uranium mine on Aboriginal people. The Medical Journal of Australia, 215:157–159.e1. doi: 10.569/mja2.51198.
Seloa, P.I., & Ngole-Jeme, V.M. (2022). Community perceptions on environmental and social impacts of mining in Limpopo South Africa and the implications on corporate social responsibility. Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences 19 (1), 189–207.
Sosy, J.J. (2013). Socio-economic constraints among local artisanal miners in Simanjiro District, Tanzania, Unpublished master's thesis, Sokoine University of Agriculture.
Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) (2003). Atomic Energy Act No. 7 of 2003, TAEC, Arusha, Tanzania.
Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) (2011). The Atomic Energy (Radiation Safety in the Mining and Processing of Radioactive Ores) Regulations, TAEC, Arusha, Tanzania
Tynan, R.J., Considine, R., Wiggers, J., Lewin, T.J., James, C., Inder, K., Kay, F., Baker, A., Skehan, J., Perkins, D., & Kelly, B. (2017). Alcohol consumption in the Australian coal mining industry. Occupational & Environmental Medicine 74: 259–67.
United Republic of Tanzania (URT) 2019. The Mining Act [Principal Legislation] Revised Edition 2019. The Government Printer, Dar Es Salaam – Tanzania
Wale W.M., Tegegne M.A., Zeleke M.T., Ejegu M.A., & Yegizaw E.S. (2021). Determinants of farmers’ choice of land management strategies to climate change in drought prone areas of Amhara region: the case of Lay Gayint woreda, Northwest Ethiopia. Journal of Degraded and Mine Lands Management 8(2):2661–2671
Yilmaz, N.Y., & Taş, A.M. (2018). The effect of nature education program on the level of environmental awareness of the elementary school students from different socioeconomic status. Universal Journal of Educational Research 6(9): 1928-1937. doi: 10.13189/ujer.2018.060911
Copyright (c) 2024 Sayuni Bildad Mariki
Ce travail est disponible sous la licence Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International .
