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Comprehensive site
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COLUMNS
S.Narayana Moorthy
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2008
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TIN IN THE FOCUS-ISSUES
AND CONCERNS ON CASSITERITE EXPLOITATION AND ELECTRONICS
Driven by the
upbeat
commodity market, mining Industry is getting an edge over tourism
and agro products in Rwanda.
Rwanda Geological Authority (RGA)estimates that the current demand
for Cassiterite
in the electronics industry as well as its mineral wealth that
includes Wolframite, Columbite-tentalite, Amblygonite and Tantalite (Colttan)
augers well for the Country's economy and future. The Government is
already in the process of regulating the its mining sector. The
mining
industry with prospects for gold deposits and semi-precious stones
could be a major factor for employment in the Country.
The potential and concentration of tin resources in Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) is well known and the current boom and requirement in the
electronics for circuitry has brought to
focus the
manner of
exploitation of cassiterite and its associated
issues as well as related concerns.
14062008
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MINE SAFETY and REGIONAL DISASTERS
The increasing frequency of Natural disasters as well as
the unprecedented intensities appear to call for a fresh look at the
co-existence of community and old as well as new mine sites with the
toxic waste from abandoned mines, tailings and mining waste generation
and storage.
Cyclone "NARGIS" hit Myanmar earlier and while the
impact is yet to be fully grasped, the "Picher tornado"
brings home an added dimension from toxic wastes.
This Tar Creek Superfund Site under the process of clean up and
relocation faced the reality with telling effect under
severe
weather. Responsible mining can no longer be local but has become
regional or even global.
MSHA has already initiated an annual
"Stay
Out-Stay Alive" in view of the cities and towns spreading into the
vicinity of abandoned mines and active operations of 500000 and 14000
respectively
CHINA-Sichuan
Province Earthquake
The frequency of natural disasters in mind-boggling. The
recent earthquake which struck Sichuan measured 7.8 in Richter's scale
and the magnitude of its impact is still emerging. The province boasts of
proven mineral wealth which includes vanadium, titanium, calcium,
mirabilite, fluorite, natural gas, sulfur and iron. A leader in the
world resource for titanium, it ranks world's third in vanadium
reserves. China has taken
emergency control measures in its coal mines, chemical plants and
oil and gas wells to prevent further causalities in the aftermath of the
earthquake. Sichuan province holds about 40 percent of China's natural
gas reserves and accounted for 22 percent of its output in 2006. No
casualties have been reported so far at underground coal mines.
Related:
Picher mining area
Severe weather safety
Severe weather
preparedness guide
Link to Effects of mining in Tar Creek
Superfund
Geology of Sichuan
12052008
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Energy
Safety is
everybody's business
More on "Energy Security", Czech, India, US
Strikes,
Disruptions and Issues
Interdependence of Education, Career and Safety
Global Warming, Mining, Bio Diversity |
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The environmental concerns will have to
wait until sustained economic activity is established with a concerted
effort to convert potential into reality. The resources appear well
marked and the Government seized of the potential. Massive copper
deposits of Aynak as
well as Darband,
Coal, rare industrial metals and precious stones in
Hindu Kush Mountain
Range and coal in the
Katawaz Basin point to the potential. Any explorers dream is
fulfilled when the actual exploitation commences and the vision
translates into reality.
More at:
Afghan geological survey
website
Governments initiative on Aynak
Articles from the Nature
Publishing Group 16122007 |
Energy security is
the buzzword and ranks high in the investment scenario. The World Energy
Outlook 2007 points out the possibility of China and India joking United
States among the maximum emitters over the coming years. While pointing
out that policy changes are needed to
cut down greenhouse effect and move towards low carbon energy and
renewable alternate forms which could result in the emission rate
falling to 2005 levels around 2030. The projections also point out 2012
as the critical year when the prices could bring in surprises.
India and Japan are already moving in this direction with the "India-Japan
Energy Dialogue. The awareness is also seen spreading with
Google
announcing its "Renewable
Energy Cheaper than Coal" and deciding to focus on solar, thermal,
wind, and geothermal power with an earmarked spending budget push in
2008
30112007 |
GLOBAL WARMING,
MINING, BIO DIVERSITY
INDIA AND BHUTAN
The
serenity is no longer there but
the effects of
mining at Pugli hills around Gomtu
across the Indian Border for Dolomite is already showing.
Landslides and erosion in Darjeeling has exposed at least 14 tea
estates to flooding. The sediments are turning the soil alkaline
and the tea bushes suffer caking from the mine dust. With
animals seriously affected due to deteriorated drinking water,
the forest officials are clamoring for reclamation and
restoration of forest cover.
Millions could suffer
TIBET
AND NEIGHBORS
The arrival of trains at
Lhasa
signaled industrial activity
and the untapped huge deposits of gold, copper, chromites,
natural gas is drawing global attention. Unfortunately high
concentrates of poisonous arsenic, mercury and cyanide and the
possibility of poisonous residues reaching any of the major
Asian rivers like Yangtze, Yellow River, Brahmaputra or Mekong
could spell disaster and calls for caution.
GREENLAND
Black Angel mine in Greenland
brings into focus the
effects of global warming. One
of the richest zinc mines of the world, it shipping season is
eight months against the earlier six months and in the future
could well be all year round. The exposure of rocks due to
retreating glaciers bring in
possibilities for mining engineers and exploration team never
thought before.
Photos
20062007 |
SAFETY IS
EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS
The
unannounced safety audits of
Queensland, Australia aims to remove the feel of complacency
from mines already having good safety records. The thrust is on
frank discussions and need for
collective enforcement on
safety from within.
In the face of growing need to boost production and increase
coal output the local mine in Southern Illinois US comes out
with their
unblemished safety record of
four years without a fatality and asserts that safety is the
first thing to grow.
In the case of China, in spite of all efforts from the
Government safety and growth is not going hand in hand and with
the projected 70 to 80$ growth in the next 15 years assumes
gigantic proportions and tackling
this serious issue could be a
lesson to all.
the accident rate during 2005 was 70 times worse than the United
States and seven times than Russia and India Coal accounts for
61% of China's energy needs and is projected to grow at an
annual rate of 15%. This demand cannot be met
without adequate investment and matching
technology. Efforts are on for a complete overhaul
of the safety regime and creating investor friendly climate.
China while producing 35% of World's coal also accounts for 80%
of
coal mining related deaths.
01052007
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MORE ON "ENERGY SECURITY"
"Energy Security" has become the
catchword of nations and has become one of the major factors
determining investment in that country. Moving towards renewable
energy and reduction of dependency on fossil based fuels, though
being taken earnestly, has a long time to catch up with the
current needs and nuclear energy has returned with force. All
the old mines once considered uneconomical, otherwise closed,
and with operational constraints are getting a second but deeper
look around the globe.
Czech Republic is an example as to how far the market forces
influence the uranium come-back
and the "Energy Security" is finding priority in the National
Agenda. Czech Republic is planning the revival of old closed
mines, as well as extending the life of running
Rozna mine beyond 2008.
Activists point out that this could result in a disaster and
totally negate the initiatives taken so for by way of huge
investments in re-cultivation of former mining areas
India is on a "fast-forward" mode as far as nuclear energy is
concerned. Though the
Jadugoda mine is in operation
for more than 30 years safety measures, still appear to lack
trigger mechanisms for "tailings-pond" failure on occurrence, to
prevent the spread of contamination by toxic sludge which
directly confronts the displaced persons
who pay a very high price on their health. The emergence of the
a local anti-uranium mining group
"Jharkhandis Organization
Against Radiation" is a reflection of the seriousness. JOAR
does its bit to resist further nuclear development and educate
the local community
The seriousness of a toxic spill is reflected in the spill that
occurred in the United States at
Church Rock N.M in 1979 which
showed strong radiation even after eighteen months and the
ground percolation feared at 30 feet.
more on:
uranium deposits in Hamr, north
Bohemia
Uranium in-situ leaching in Czech
Russia, Asia and others
20042007
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STRIKES, DISRUPTIONS AND ISSUES
Local issues no longer affect a limited circle but increasingly
have a wider impact with the trends towards globalization and
outsourcing. Compliances and protecting local interests get to
be the keyword and calls for a realignment of economies and
policy matters. The sustenance of sourcing raw material and
location of the plant with a macro level planning globally calls
for introspection with growing local issues and increasing
awareness and rising demands for a share in exploitation.
The recent disturbances and disruptions at
Rosebel gold mine located about
100 km south of Suriname`s capital, Paramaribo , bauxite mine in
Sangaredi and the Kamsar port,
Kevin Lowery.
Modikwa mine
South Africa,
Chiquicamata mine in Chile and
Latin Americas, as also in
Mexico are pointers to site a
few. The settlements reached are not guaranteed to be permanent
but might have to be lived with. Real vision of realities is
called for both current ongoing operations and future plans.
The stoppages, disruptions, litigations, providing for alternate
supplies, taking care for the safety of employees and still
maintaining a balance of projections is now part of the
projections and operational constraints. Potential mineral
wealth of a particular region in spite of the advancements in
the communication and transport segments and increasing investor
friendly policies does not guarantee smooth sailing and calls
for "local reality planning" apart from the economical and
technical planning.
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Interdependence of Education, Career and Safety
The "opening-up" of Global Market
has ushered in a new "Gold Rush" and this time around there is
more awareness and with it changing roles. Earlier it was oil
and need for energy that brought a radical change in players but
the future rush is for
professionals and knowledge workers.
It is estimated that the youngest populations by 2020 would be
dominated by India and China and this could remain so till 2050.
This could be a major influencing factor.
South Africa already faces a
shortage of skilled professionals and knowledge workers to meet
the provisions of the BEE on account of shortage and the
required mining engineers, geologists, metallurgists and
accountants with industry experience. The supply is either
inadequate to meet the demand or the demands of those available
underline the need to address this serious issue.
The accidents and increasing environmental and conservation
awareness brings in its own set of regulations and restrictions
requiring careful monitoring and also personnel for successful
implementation. The very fact that almost 20 companies are
already exploring in the Bushveld complex alone underlines the
need to outsource further.
India is facing a boom in the
mining and construction sectors and and with urgent attention
towards building infra structure to meet the emerging needs
expect to add more jobs.
The Sago mine tragedy brought to the focus
the issues and the need to prevent
recurrence. The strengthening the mining safety laws
and the need to bring in a new safety regime and culture for
mining further underlines the need for skilled professionals and
urgency to address filling the gap.
In spite of increasing concern, awareness, framing laws and
tightening safety regime, the
recurring accidents underline the urgency
to bring in skills and knowledge to address these issues. The
process of change could be long and calls for involvement from
all those involved, perseverance and also efforts to bridge the
widening gap
also:
Safety Alerts , results of investigations,
tips and much much more from
MSHA
Reflections
on enforcement of regulations
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