Green Chert Mine stops operations

NKOMAZI – It was a promise of jobs, investment and a transformed community.

Today, Green Chert Mine stands desolate. The mine has halted operations, leaving between 80 and more than 100 workers without an income and raising questions about the future of a project once presented as a major economic opportunity for northern Hhohho.

Green Chert Mine, situated around Nkomazi, was deserted when Eswatini News visited its headquarters on Thursday. The gate remained shut, with piles of green chert visible from outside and heavy-duty vehicles parked in the same positions since July 23, when workers were informed that operations were being halted.

There were no employees in sight and, unusually, no security personnel were visible at the premises. The silence contrasted sharply with the expectations that accompanied the mine’s introduction, when the project was presented as an investment that could bring employment, infrastructure and economic development to the surrounding community.

Former workers who spoke to Eswatini News said they were abruptly informed that their last day at work had arrived. They said they were verbally told that the company was halting operations ‘until further notice’.

The workers said the announcement came as a surprise because they had expected to be given advance notice. The halt affected workers in various categories, including stone parkers, stone sorters, blasters, drivers and boilermakers, as well as employees based at the mine’s headquarters and blasting site.

The blasting site, situated near kaNdeva, is where green chert is extracted before being transported to the company’s headquarters around Nkomazi.

The site is situated near the Malolotja Nature Reserve. The development of the mine had earlier generated optimism in the surrounding area, particularly following reports that millions of Emalangeni had been invested in establishing the operation.

The investment was seen as having the potential to transform the local economy through employment and increased economic activity. The mine was also expected to contribute to the development of the surrounding community through projects aimed at improving residents’ livelihoods.

Among the projects associated with the mine are two mini-complexes intended for use as shops. A spaza shop has also been constructed through the company’s involvement in the community. The company had further planned to construct houses for residents displaced during the development of the mine.

For residents, the projects represented more than corporate social responsibility initiatives. They were seen as signs that the arrival of the mine could bring long-term changes to an area that had traditionally been rural.

Earlier reports about the project had raised hopes that the investment would help transform the surrounding community into a more urbanised area, allowing residents to benefit from increased economic activity and infrastructure. The sudden halt has, therefore, left some residents worried that the anticipated benefits may not materialise.

Residents who spoke to Eswatini News on condition of anonymity said they were concerned about the future of projects associated with the mine. They fear that planned or ongoing projects could be affected if the mining operation remains inactive.

The Green Chert Mine’s operations have also been subject to environmental and mining regulations. The company was granted a mining licence, allowing it to undertake mining activities subject to the relevant legal and regulatory requirements. Its operations were also subject to inspections to ensure compliance with requirements of the Eswatini Environment Authority.

This environmental oversight is significant because mining can affect vegetation, soil, water resources and surrounding communities. The company had established a plant nursery where indigenous trees were being grown. The trees were intended to replace vegetation removed during mining activities.

However, when Eswatini News visited the environmental centre, there were no employees present. The centre appeared inactive, raising questions about whether the environmental programme had also been affected by the halt in operations.

The mine has previously experienced a stoppage linked to environmental concerns.

During an earlier closure, the company was required to address certain aspects of its operations before mining could resume. The issues were subsequently addressed and the mine reopened. The current halt, however, appears to be different.