Mining and Environmental Management
ZIMBABWE is endowed with rich mineral deposits, dominated by two prominent geological
features namely the Great Dyke and ancient Greenstone belt also known as Gold Belt. The
nation has seen an increase in the number of mining activities in recent years, both small and
large-scale.
On a positive note, mining activities are coupled with employment creation, revenue generation
and community projects. However, mining inevitably impacts negatively on the environment
disturbing the landscapes and ecosystems thereon.
Can mining become environmentally sustainable?
Mining can become more environmentally friendly through developing and integrating practices that
reduce the adverse environmental impact of mining operations.
Such good practices include water and energy consumption, minimising land disturbance, and waste
production, preventing land, water, and air pollution at mine sites, and conducting successful mine closure
and reclamation activities.
Reducing inputs
Water
Water is used in a number of applications at mine sites. By diverting surface water and pumping
groundwater, mining operations can reduce both quantity and quality of water available downstream for
aquatic ecosystems and other industrial and municipal water users, especially in areas with arid climates
such as Matabeleland South. Closed water system whereby effluent water is drained, collected and re-
used or recycled reduces demand for fresh water and minimises resultant pollution.
Energy
Mining and metal processing can be hyper-energy intensive. Some examples of ways mining
companies are reducing their energy consumption include reliance on renewable resources and
clean energy sources such as solar and wind.
Land disruption
Mining activities use land at every stage of its cycle, exploration, construction, operation,
closure, post closure. Vegetation is cleared for the construction of buildings, roads, and power
lines, open pits or tunnels are dug to gain access to the ore, and waste storage facilities such as
tailings, ponds are expanded over the half of the mine, potentially leading to habitat loss and
deforestation.
To reduce the land use impacts of mining, miners can reduce the overall footprint of the mining
areas, minimise the amount of waste produced and stored, maintain biodiversity by transplanting
any endangered plants found on site, and plan mines processing plants around existing
infrastructure, wherever possible.
Waste
Mine waste, include solid waste, mine water, and air particles, which can vary significantly in
their composition and potential for environmental contamination. In addition in preventing soil,
water and air pollution, waste management plans are required in order to select and design
appropriate storage facilities for the large volumes of waste produced at most mine sites.
It is generally recognized that preventing pollution is more effective at reducing environmental
impacts and economic than cleaning it up later on. Methods for minimising and eliminating
wastes in the production of minerals and metal commodities include:
Use of cleaner production techniques
Using waste as a raw material and reducing the amount of waste being produced through the
process and re-engineering. Water management strategies are used to reduce the volume of waste
water produced, and if necessary, to treat it to an acceptable quality before it is released.
What does the law say about environmentally sustainable mining?
In Zimbabwe the Environmental Management Act (CAP 20 : 27) of 2002 is the legal frame-work
for environmental management and mining is prescribed as an activity where an environmental
impact assessment (EIA) is mandatory before such as project commences implementation.
All miners should go through the EIA processes, which is the assessment for the purpose of
identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating biophysical, social, and other relevant effects
of mining development proposals prior and major decisions being taken and commitments made.
In addition, the same law regulates mine waste disposal; solid, liquid and gas, controlling how
waste can be discharged into the environment.
