Times Of Swaziland: SERIOUS COSTS OF CHERT MINING

SERIOUS COSTS OF CHERT MINING
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Editor on 12/11/2024 08:00:00


Sir,
While job creation is vital in eSwatini, we must not let our need for employment
blind us to the serious costs of chert mining in Malolotja Nature Reserve. This
operation will not only devastate the local ecosystem, but also harm our
long-term economic potential by destroying a precious natural asset that we, and
future generations, benefit from. Malolotja’s untouched landscapes attract
ecotourism, one of the few sustainable industries in our country. Nature-based
tourism creates jobs, without impacting the natural systems that provide us
life, including our drinking and agricultural water.  Mining will be short-lived
in comparison, creating minimal employment for a handful of years, but leaving
behind irreversible environmental scars.
Jobs
Once the chert is gone, the small number of local jobs will go too, along with
the wildlife, clean water, mineral-rich soil and pristine landscapes that make
Malolotja so special
Ecotourism already plays a substantial role in our economy, contributing 6.9 per
cent of GDP and supporting a sector with an annual growth rate of 2.4 per cent.
Given that tourism revenue is largely sustainable and potentially increasing,
disrupting the Malolotja reserve for a mining operation, with limited economic
data, will undermine this significant GDP contributor.In contrast, mining
currently contributes less than 1 per cent of our economy.
Without any concrete data provided by Michael Lee Enterprises (MLE), a
Taiwanese-owned business, it is impossible to know how many jobs the chert
extraction will actually provide, but we do know that it will not significantly
alter this percentage because the avaliable mined chert is very modest in size,
and it will be mostly exported; with minimal processing or value addition
occurring within Eswatini.
Strategies
The MLE chert mine operation has moved forward with the submission of a very
weak Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that lacks depth, specificity, and
enforceable actions in its mitigation strategies. These deficiencies expose the
EIA’s mitigation measures as inadequate for ensuring sustainable environmental
management. Without strong, actionable plans, this document appears more focused
on meeting minimal regulatory requirements, rather than genuinely safeguarding
the environment and community interests for emaSwati.
To truly reflect Malolotja’s special status, an independent EIA study that
reflects the nation’s commitment and responsibility to emaSwati by including a
much deeper analysis of the socio-economic and environmental impacts, must be
completed as due diligence. Instead of ripping up our land for fleeting profit,
let’s focus on creating more jobs in ecotourism, regenerative agriculture and
renewable energy; sectors that grow sustainably and offer a proven track record
for greater economic impact in eSwatini.
Economy
If we are willing to innovate and invest in these areas, we can build an economy
that does not sacrifice the environment that sustains us for minimal short-term
gains. The ancient mountains of Malolotja stretch into South Africa where they
offer a successful ecotourism destination and are preserved as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. We too must protect this natural asset for our children and their
children. Let’s think longer-term and invest in industries that are proven to
grow, rather than destroy our future.
Emma Granville
Strategic Director
Guba