The Environmental Impacts Of Small-Scale Mining In Namibia: A Case Study Of Uis Small Scale Mining Site - Erongo Region

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Abstract

The Namibian mining sector is characterised by large, medium and smallscale mining sector. However, this study is based on the small-scale mining. Namibia is rich in mineral deposits including diamonds, uranium, gold, base metals, industrial minerals and different types of precious stones and dimension stones. It is against this background that mining has been the backbone of the Namibian economy. Small-scale mining plays a major role in alleviating poverty and supplements the income of those involved. The Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act of 1992 and the Minerals Policy (2003) make provision for the registration of different types of mineral licence and mining claims. Thus, this study was undertaken within the context of the legislative framework, the Minerals Policy in particular, as it also provides the basis for the registration of mining claims. Despite the fact that small-scale mining contributes to the economic development of Namibia, it has also contributed to environmental impacts of which the greater ones have impacted other sectors of the economy. According to Speisers (2000), environmental impacts of small scale mining are divided into primary and secondary impacts, primary impacts being those that results from mining activities itself and secondary being those that results from the spin offs of the mining activity such as littering, and impacts on flora. Even with the provisions for the registration of mining claims in place, illegal mining operations are found.

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