Analysis of Challenges Related to Poor Environmental Regulatory Framework on Mineral Exploration Projects: A Case of Tanzania

Meserecordias Wilfred Lema

doi:10.4236/gep.2016.47010

Abstract

In the United Republic of Tanzania (URT), all environmental issues related to the mining industry are regulated according to two principle Acts: The Mining Act and the Environmental Management Act, and their respective regulations. The current acts were enacted in 2010 and 2004 respectively. Mineral exploration (that includes all on-site activities performed before a mining project is declared feasible) projects in URT appears to be “unforgotten phenomena” in the two major legislative documents, when it comes to environmental considerations. This phenomenon is believed to be causing detrimental effects to the environment. This paper, therefore, analyzes the current environmental regulatory framework on mineral exploration projects in URT and discusses few examples in which mineral exploration projects have caused damage to the indigenous environment. Furthermore, this study reviews environmental regulatory frameworks from other few countries in comparison with existing environmental regulatory framework prevailing in URT.

Highlights

The current practice in the Republic of South African (RSA) requires all companies seeking for prospecting licenses in RSA to submit environmental management plans, which involve consultation with the owners or lawful occupiers of the land in question [18]
This study has revealed a significant loophole in the current regulatory framework in United Republic of Tanzania (URT) in relation to
The fact that, the two principal legislative documents (Environmental Management Act, 2004 and Mining Act, 2010) that regulate both Mining and Environmental matters in the country are completely silent on this matter, adds more fuel towards the danger of destructions to our natural environment

Summary

Introduction

(2016) Analysis of Challenges Related to Poor Environmental Regulatory Framework on Mineral Exploration Projects: A Case of Tanzania. Lema four main stages associated with any mining project, which are: mineral exploration, actual mining, mineral beneficiation and project decommissioning (rehabilitation) [3]. The first stage involves all activities related to searching for valuable minerals that can be mined at a profit. These include area selection, target generation, resource evaluation and reserve definition, all of which aim at defining a mineral reserve with a high confidence level in order to allow a profitable mining project to be undertaken [3]. All the other three stages depend on the first stage (mineral exploration) for their existence

Objectives

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Results

Conclusion