Senegal’s coastal region is facing severe ecological disruption due to the operations of the world’s largest mining dredger which is extracting zircon. The project, run by the French conglomerate Eramet, has displaced thousands of farmers and altered local ecosystems. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has raised concerns over transparency and the socio-economic impacts of mining. Residents are urging for the return of their land and proper compensation, as they face dwindling agricultural outputs and livelihoods due to the mining activities.
In Senegal, the massive mining dredger, renowned as the world’s largest, has drastically altered the coastal landscape, consuming extensive farmland crucial for the nation’s vegetable production. Spanning 23 kilometers in length, this operation, targeting zircon as a resource for ceramics and construction, is so extensive that it can be detected from space,
leaving a significant scar on the earth’s surface. With each passing hour, the dredger extracts thousands of tonnes of mineral sand while progressing on a lake formed by water sourced from underground aquifers.
The dredger is currently advancing through the picturesque Lompoul region, a small desert that has become a tourist attraction along Senegal’s scenic Atlantic coastline. Over the past decade, this relentless operation has forced the relocation of countless farmers and their families, paving the way for the floating factory managed by the French mining company, Eramet. Despite its claims of exemplary operations, local residents contend that the mining devastates their delicate ecosystem and threatens their livelihoods.
Recent developments have seen a united front of local tourism operators, farmers, and community leaders calling for a halt to the mining activities. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has also voiced concerns regarding the socio-economic repercussions inherent in extractive practices, stating that local populations often do not reap the benefits. His administration is focused on regaining Senegal’s sovereignty, particularly from French influence, amidst calls for enhanced transparency and oversight concerning social and environmental impacts associated with mining.
Eramet commenced mining in 2014, granted a concession under the previous government. The Senegalese state retains a 10 percent stake in its local subsidiary, EGC, which is responsible for extracting zircon and titanium-related minerals. Eramet maintains that it operates responsibly and has compensated displaced residents at rates significantly higher than the national average, insisting they have allocated between 12,190 and 15,240 euros per hectare for lost farmland.
Critics, however, argue that the land left to them after mining is devoid of its previous fertility, leading to significant declines in agricultural output. Sheikh Yves Jacquemain, a local hotelier, expressed disillusionment with the empty promises of economic development made by the mining company. Many farmers struggle to survive while working in diminished capacities for others after losing their fertile land.
While EGC claims to have built modern housing for displaced families, many residents, including Omar Keita and Ibrahima Ba, express frustration and anger, demanding the return of their original land and lives. The mayor of Diokoul Diawrigne, Gora Gaye, highlighted the devastation caused by the mining operation, indicating that if the current practices continue, the socio-economic fabric of the community will be irreparably damaged.
As community tensions intensify, farmer Serigne Mar Sow lamented the ecological toll taken on the land, which now suffers from diminished fertility and potential contamination from mining activities. Gaye called for an immediate moratorium on mining until comprehensive studies are conducted to assess the environmental and community impact. However, Zanklan, EGC’s managing director, opposed such measures, asserting that halting operations would jeopardize employment and state revenue.
The debate continues as the giant dredger relentlessly consumes the beautiful dunes of Lompoul, raising critical questions about the true cost of economic progress versus environmental and human welfare in Senegal.
In summary, the large-scale mining operations in Senegal are eliciting profound concerns regarding environmental degradation, displacement of local populations, and inadequate compensation for land lost. Despite assurances from the miner, Eramet, residents demand accountability and the restoration of their lands. Growing collaboration between locals and governmental authorities calls for a reevaluation of mining practices, underlining the urgency for transparency, environmental safeguards, and fair compensation for affected communities. The outcome of these discussions will determine the future interplay of economic benefits and the preservation of the local ecosystem. Amidst ongoing tensions, the community’s resilience showcases a collective demand for accountability and a return to sustainable living conditions, revealing the complexities and challenges inherent in resource extraction industries.
Original Source: www.kpvi.com
