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“ OVERALL DECISION MAKING IN PLANNING FOR REMEDIATION OF URANIUM MINES”

“ OVERALL DECISION MAKING IN PLANNING FOR REMEDIATION OF URANIUM MINES” . Presentation to the Senior Regulator’s meeting at the 56 th IAEA General Conference by: Mr Erasmus Shivolo-Mining Commissioner , Ministry of Mines and Energy Republic of Namibia Vienna, Austria, September 2012.

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“ OVERALL DECISION MAKING IN PLANNING FOR REMEDIATION OF URANIUM MINES”

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  1. “ OVERALL DECISION MAKING IN PLANNING FOR REMEDIATION OF URANIUM MINES” Presentation to the Senior Regulator’s meeting at the 56th IAEA General Conference by: Mr Erasmus Shivolo-Mining Commissioner , Ministry of Mines and Energy Republic of Namibia Vienna, Austria, September 2012

  2. Regulatory Framework • Environmental Assessment Policy (1995) + Environmental Management Act (Act 7 of 2007) • Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act 33 of 1992 • Water Act 54 of 1956 • Atomic Energy and Radiation Protection Act 2005 • No Legacy sites or abandoned uranium mines in Namibia!

  3. ELEMENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT • Management programmesfor high risks areas (EIA/EMP) • Electricity, Water, fuel, Manufactured materials • Mineral, Non mineral Solid waste • Tailings, Spillage • Industrial, Domestic Effluent • Storm, Groundwater • Biodiversity, Archaeological sites, • Air Quality + Environmental Radiation

  4. Regularly update EMP for operations • Government informed (additional changes explained in report) • Stakeholder participation (GRN, NGO, public) meetings conducted voluntary/upon request • Technical information clarified and explained • BI-Annual reporting to DWA, MME, MET.

  5. INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES • Industry required to achieve Legal Compliance for its operations • Obtained ISO 14001 for its operations and EMS for those operating in environmentally sensitive areas and parks. • Develop Mine Closure Plan for site, including after care. • To prevent any of its operations to pollute soil or ground water • Formalize spillage management and train staff in cleaning up of spills • Commit to Biodiversity conservation; • Promote good land use stewardship; • Prevent pollution from its operations; • Manage, mitigate and remediate negative impacts; • Develop regulatory frameworks; • Perform Regular site inspections.

  6. MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT • Ground, Sewerage, Process water tested and monitored • Borehole monitoring (, Mining area, Swakop river, Tailing Storage Facility, Plant) • Vegetation surveys • Bio diversity surveys • Sewerage Plant • Dust Monitoring • Radiation Monitoring (cups)

  7. CHALLENGES • Possible legacy sites from the extensive uranium mining activities in the Erongo region which includes numerous tailings ponds, low-grade ore heaps etc. • Funding mechanisms to address legacy/abandoned mines; • Mines posing an actual or potential radiological threat to the local population • Not sufficient/adequate local expertise in the field of uranium site remediation. • Social impacts related to potential legacy sites (i.e. Rössingpit) are not as well documented or understood asEnvironmental impacts; • Uranium mining vstourism

  8. CONCLUSION • Funding for remediation needs to become a priority • Implement measures concerning closure and remediation already at the stage of development and operation of uranium mines to minimize environmental damage and future remedial costs; • Share remediation experience with countries that have legacy sites and consider the lessons learned. • Establish and Co-management of rehabilitation funds. • Cooperation with tourism bodies. • Make it a national agenda –pool in all stakeholders.

  9. THANK YOU!

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