The role of large scale gold minining companies on environment management in Tanzania

The study examines the role of large scale gold mining companies on environment management in gold mining areas in Tanzania. The study found that large scale gold mining processes in Tanzania involve exploration and construction, gold processing-industry, gold refinement and gold closure and environmental restoration. The main gold mining byproducts are waste rocks and tailings. The increasing gold mining activities have led to increasing air pollution, water contamination, and soil degradation and thus destruction of biodiversity and most fatally can cause human health problems in close proximity and death thereof. Like other countries in the World, Tanzania has effective Environmental Management System (EMS) articulated in policies, laws, and institutional framework. ACACIA Gold Mining Company has an effective operational EMS managing air pollution, water quality, biodiversity, mining materials, waste rocks and tailings and mine reclamation. However, the national EMS is not decentralized and integrated into local government system and communities are not well informed. The study recommends periodical review and mainstreaming of local authority’s environmental by-laws to national environmental laws in order to bring harmonization and remove contradiction in the implementation process. It is suggested that the large scale gold mining companies should ensure waste dumps; tailings and other similar infrastructures are well planned, designed, built and operated, in order to control material seepage and spill-off. In addition, both the government and companies must beef up security around the environmental, health and safety infrastructures and encourage a cordial relationship between the mine company and the surrounding communities in order to secure sustainable EMS and support from the locals