The second training session of this series was held in Botswana from November 6 to 17, 2017. The training program covered a variety of activities related to the environmental management of mines, including:
- Assessment and evaluation as it relates to mining and the affected environment.
- Assessment and evaluation of resources and measures appropriate and available for remediation, rehabilitation and sustainability as they relate to mining operations.
- Risk analysis of the variety of means and methods involved in mining operations and how they can affect the environment.
- Promotion and marketing of environmentally friendly practices for mining.
Throughout the training session, lecturers also presented key information regarding the environmental management of mines, covering topics such as:
- Small- to large-scale mining
- Environmental impact assessment and permitting
- Waste management
- Water management
- Mine site remediation
- Waste characterization and prediction
- Mine closure
- Post mining activities.
For three days, a site visit at Selebi offered a rare opportunity to dig freely at a large mine currently in receivership and access a recently closed mine undergoing care and maintenance. The group also had the chance to meet with the community and representatives of the municipality, providing a behind-the-scenes look at their mining industry. By collaborating with local stakeholders, the PanAfGeo training sessions aim to foster professional cooperation and collaboration with the opportunity to learn about and find solutions to problems common to all stakeholders.
The training was led by Seydou Keita from Mali, Mattias Fackel and Joanna Lindahl from the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) and experts from both the BGI and University of Botswana. For more details, please read the press release.
The Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) coordinated this training session with technical and scientific assistance from the Botswana Geoscience Institute and the Geological Survey of Senegal (MIM-DPPM).
For questions regarding WP4, please contact:
WP4 Co-Leader Berndt Pettersson (SGU): berndt.pettersson@sgu.se
WP4 Co-Leader Molatlhegi Moseki (Botswana Geoscience Institute): mmoseki@gov.bw
WP4 Deputy Co-Leader Lamine Diouf (MIM-DPPM): laminodiouf@yahoo.fr