ASSESSMENT OF THE METHODS USED IN WASTE ROCKS AND TAILINGS DISPOSAL AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS ON THE ENVIRONMENT:

A CASE STUDY OF KILEMBE MINE AT KASESE DISTRICT IN WESTERN UGANDA

A PRESENTATION ON A RESEARCH THESIS PRESENTED TO

SCHOOL OF SCIENCES DPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AS A FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BSC’S IN PETROLEUM & MINERALS MGT & TECHNOLOGY

AUGUST 20TH, 2015

BYKUORWEL NGANG JACOB AUG/2013/BPLMM/B11865/DAY

SUPERVISED BY:Mr. Lugaizi IsaTell: +256703/714-022034Email: isalugayizi@yahoo.com Petroleum Course Coordinator.Nkumba University, School of Sciences P.O. Box 237, Entebbe, Kampala, Uganda.

Table of contents

Background Problem statement VS Main objectives Conceptual framework

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY Location (research Area) Population of the area Sample size Data collection methods

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS Data, Education & Age group The types of waste rocks & tailings generated at the

mine site at Kilembe The methods used to depose off waste rocks & tailings at Kilembe mine. The positive & negative implications of the waste rocks

and tailings on the environment at Kasese district Conclusion, Challenges and Recommendations

BackgroundCopper ore was first discovered

in Kilembe in 1906 by a man called Ambrose from Italy.

In 1956, first copper wastes were produced by Facon-bridge of Canada which

operated the mine.

The reserves were originally estimated to be 12.7 million

Tonnes out of which 2% averaged copper and 0.2%

cobalt

From 1974 to 1982, the Government of Uganda took over the ownership

of Kilembe Mine.

Kilembe remains not only attractive as a

copper production area but also as a cobalt

supplier.

In 2013, Kilembe mine was privatized to a Chinese company called Tibet Hima

mining company for 25 years.

Objectives

To investigate & identify the methods

used in waste rocks & tailings disposal, their

implications on the environment

To identify the type of wastes generated at the

mine site.

Examine the negative & positive

implications of waste rocks &

tailings .

Waste rocks & tailings disposal has always been a challenge to the mining companies because they endangers the environment and human life, contaminate the water points in their vicinity and poses threat to the vegetation. I saw it necessary to identify the appropriate methods used to get rid of waste rocks and tailings at Kilembe mine and to suggest best ways to stop them from endangering people’s lives.

Problem statement VS

Conceptual framework

Figure 1.1: Conceptual frame work

Management of the wastes at the mine site basing

on the following;

The mining activities which generate waste rocks & tailings are

independent variables;

Management & mitigation measures that are put in place to grantee safety are

the immediate variables

Implications that result from the

mining activities are dependent variables.

Location (research Area) Kilembe mine is located at Kasese district in western Uganda, lying north of Lake George. Kasese town is the 'chief town' of Kasese District and the headquarters of the Renzururu sub-region. It lies at the western end of the Uganda Railway to Kampala and Tororo, and is home to Kasese Airport. The city lies near the Rwenzori Mountains and Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is located approximately 360 kilometres (220 mi), by road, west of Kampala. 36 kilometres (22 mi), by road,

northeast of Mpondwe, the border town at the International border between Uganda and the DRC.Population of the area

Sample sizeThe researcher used up to 10 respondents per group or gender and specialization to represent the whole population of 101,679 mostly the mine workers at Kilembe and in Kasese town.

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 20200

200000

400000

600000

800000

343600

52300

747800

101679

POPULATION

YEARS

POPU

LA

TIO

N

FIG

UR

ES

IN 2014, KILEMBE

ALONE HAD

101679 PEOPLE

Tools used during the investigation to aid the research included the following but not limited to;

Interviews, Questionnaires, Observation, Photography, Documentation.

The researcher took time to understand and analyze the data collected in order to

accurately extract out valuable information which enabled the

researcher to easily compile the findings of the study and

interpreted them

The work was edited by grouping the data and

checking for the errors in order to update the data and

reaching recommended standards.

Encoding the data by grouping the

information that has the same ideas together using

Microsoft word and excel.

Data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS

Less than 1814%

18-2540%26-33

22%

34-4114%

42-498%

50+2%

AGE GROUPS AND THE NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS OUT OF 50

Less than 18 18-25 26-3334-41 42-49 50+

Figure 4.3: Age groups of the respondents Figure 4.4: Frequency levels of education for the respondents.

Pri-mary 40%

Sec-ondary

38%

Tertiary 22%

A PIE-CHART SHOWING THE FREQUENCIES OF THE ED-UCATION LEVELS OF THE RESPONDENTS

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

Wastes commonly associated with mining activities include the following but not limited to;

Chemical Properties

Overburden

Waste rocks

Tailings Slags & Slurry

Mine water

Gaseous wastes

Clay-rich tailings

Types of waste rocks & tailings generated at the mine site at Kilembe

0 2 4 6 8 10 120

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

4-Mar

MAJOR TYPES OF TAILINGS AND WASTE ROCKS PRODUCED AT KILEMBE MINE.

Copper Tailings Iron Ore Tailings Cobalt Tailingsvarious types of Tailings & waste rocksT

ailin

gs &

was

te r

ocks

in T

onns

Figure 4.6: Waste rocks piled at mill site in the past (left) and wagons used to transport them to convenient disposal points (right).

Mine water

Figure 4.7: Mine water (left) and pipelines (right) that were used to pump water into the mine at Kilembe.

The methods used to depose off waste rocks & tailings at Kilembe mine. Backfilling of the waste-rocks into the

underground mines tunnel to get access to an ore above the miners.

Dry backfill Cemented backfill Dumping more or less dry tailings or waste-

rocks onto heaps or hill sides Using the tailings & waste-rock for land use,

e.g. as aggregates for restoration Discarding tailings into surface water (e.g.

sea, lake, and river) or groundwater. Construction industry River bank stabilization & diversion of the

river Planting Eucalyptus grandis trees, Leucaena

glauca, and Cassia siamea Plants and reeds along rivers

Figure 4.8: An over view of the mining industry associated with waste rocks and tailings generation (Source: www.interbasemetals.com).

Figure 4.9: The settling basin (left) used to control tailings temporarily at Kilembe mine and participants of a workshop on climate change (Right) in Kasese (September, 2010) visit one of the previous stock piles of tailings near Kilembe mines.

Tailings dams are built to retain slurried tailing have many features in common with water retention dams

Positive impacts of the mining industry to the population at Kasese district. Copper

Between 1957-1979 a total of 16.29 million tons ore averaging 1.95% copper & 0.18% cobalt were mined & treated to yield 217,000 tons of blister copper which was exported.

1.1 million tons of cobaltiferous pyrite (iron sulphide) was stockpiled Copper is mainly used in making electrical conductors, special alloys

for the aerospace industry, electronics and high-tech industry.

Kasese Cobalt Company has installed a 1,000-tonnes per year plant and is processing the stockpile concentrates of pyrite.

Cobalt salts are used in the chemical industry and in tinting glass to give a blue colour.

Galena: A mineral containing lead (with minor zinc and gold), occurs in quartz veins. It is associated with tin (cassiterite) at Kilembe.

It is used in making motor vehicle batteries and heavy metal shield for nuclear radiation protection.

Talc: Occurs at Kisinga, in Kasese district. Talc is used as an extender in paints, ceramics, radio tubes, refractories, toilet powders, lotions and face creams.

The negative impacts of the mining industry on the

environment at Kasese district

Figure 4.10: President Museveni (left) and participants (Right) in the workshop for climate change, visited Kilembe mine’s previous tailing stockpiles after the severe flooding in the area (October 2013).

Copper ‘waste’ poisoning fish in river Nyamwamba, Lake Edward, Lake Albert and Lake George

Blanketing/suffocating Contamination of soil Loss of animal life. Health risks Long food chain:

Metals accumulation in plants aquatic life and animals

The collapse of a tailing dam can be fatal or can generate short-term and long-term problems such as;

Tailings dams are built to retain slurried tailing

Figure 4.11: The stock-pile of the copper-cobaltiferous pyrites (Left) along the Kasese-Kilembe road eroded when River Nyamwamba burst its banks (Right), 2013.

CHALLENGES

Definitely, it required a lot

of money

language barrier

Lab testing was required to test water

quality, soil pH, heavy metals.

Inadequacy of the data.

The sit was under construction, renovation, rehabilitation.

exploration, mining, processing were undergoing

Limited time due to the strike

of 2014.Long distance between

Kampala and Kasese district

Waste management plans should be developed before

the mine is constructed

promote capacity building

Waste characterization

practices, prediction, monitoring, and

treatment

Tougher laws should be put in place

Recommendations

14

4457

5

46

214 2

3139

134 2

16

The world’s Share of mineral production from Africa (World Bank Report 2005) percentage

Type of minerals exported

perc

enta

ges i

n to

nns

Conclusion:Mining industry remains a key to economic growth in Africa

Minerals exploration and

production remain a key to

economic growth in

Africa.

• Africa is richly endowed with mineral reserves and ranks first or second in world’s reserves of bauxite, cobalt, industrial diamond, phosphate rock.

• Gold mining is Africa's main mining resource.

“”

I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRESENCETHANK YOU

Asanti sana, We ca keek leec, Agandi, Webale Nyo’

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