Tanzania orders clean-up at Acacia gold mine and threatens closure
A minister says toxic water is leaking from a tailings storage dam at North Mara mine, which is Acacia’s largest
Dar es Salaam — Acacia Mining has until March 30 to stop waste-water pollution at its North Mara gold mine in Tanzania or the facility will be shut down, the country’s mining minister said on Friday. Doto Biteko, appointed minister in January with orders to be “strict” on managing Tanzania’s mineral wealth, said Acacia must stop contaminated water seeping from a waste storage dam at the mine to nearby communities in the country’s north. “We have given them until March 30 to fix this problem or face closure without notice. The life of even one Tanzanian is worth more than their gold mining activities,” Biteko told Reuters. Acacia Mining Tanzania said it had no immediate comment. North Mara is Acacia’s largest mine, producing 336,055 ounces of gold last year, comprising 65% of the company’s output, Acacia said in its annual report. Biteko said that after inspecting the mine that toxic water from waste rock at North Mara’s tailings storage facility was being discharged into the environ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.