BULEMBU A GHOST TOWN BULEMBU A GHOST TOWN

PIGG’S PEAK – Pigg’s Peak could soon be known as the hub of gold mining following the granting of notarial mining lease for the rehabilitation of the Havelock Chrysolite Tailings facility at Bulembu.    

The lease has been granted to a Swazi company, Kobolondo Mining Ltd. 
It grants Kobolondo Mining rights to rehabilitate the tailings storage facility and extract minerals such as gold, magnesium, chrysolite, nickel and chrome using acceptable mining methods and technology and use the revenue generated to offset the rehabilitation costs. 

A E550 million investment in the defunct Bulembu asbestos mine dumps could be the solution to the much needed revenue for the Kingdom of Swaziland.
The venture could eventually give back billions in dividends and taxes of several years.
There are currently 48 million tonnes of unrehabilitated mining dumps in Bulembu area and these are said to be rich in minerals including gold.
This is despite concerns in the past that asbestos is toxic.

As it is now, the asbestos mining dumps pose a danger due to exposure to the environment.
The rehabilitation would not only bring in revenue but would also restore the environment by rehabilitating the mine dumps.
Though the first and second phases of the mining would need an investment of E550 million, the actual cost could go as high as over E800 million.

From between 1939 and 2001, the town of Bulembu was operated as chrysolite asbestos mine but mining stopped as the international market for the chrysolite had significantly reduced.
Nearly 10 000 people are said to have left the town when the mining stopped; earning Bulembu the title of ‘ghost town’. Reference to the place as the ghost town could soon be a thing of the past.
Yesterday, chiefs and representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy gathered at Bulembu Lodge to listen to a presentation from company representatives.

Prince Tsekedi, the Regional Administrator, was also present. Ironically, the prince had been a representative at the mine for about 30 years.

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