Environment

AngloGold Ashanti’s Geita Mine in Tanzania faced scrutiny during 2008 following news reports in Norway on a thesis written by a Masters student at the University of Dar es Salaam. The thesis titled ‘Evaluation of heavy metals pollution in soils and plants accrued from gold mining activity’ describes the presence of a high level of heavy metals in soil samples from the area around Nyakabale village near Geita Mine. The metals include zinc, lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury and copper in allegedly sufficient quantities to constitute a health danger.

ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI’S RESPONSE

AngloGold Ashanti’s response involved a combination of immediate reaction to enquiries from the media, submitting the thesis for an independent assessment to a prominent academic scientist, and the initiation of a programme to analyse sediment samples.

The independent assessment of the thesis raised a number of methodological questions which the environmental scientist recommended be discussed with the student and his supervisor. Those discussions were in progress at the time of writing.

In response to the ongoing journalistic enquiries, the company provided as much information as possible. It was pointed out that the issues are complicated by the fact that mining has been going on in the region since the 1920s.

To quote from a Geita safety, health and environment report produced by AngloGold Ashanti in 2002, shortly after production at the mine began, and based on a baseline study conducted earlier:

“Historic records indicate that approximately six million tonnes of material were placed as tailings during the operation of the old Geita Mine. Currently Geita Gold Mine estimates that there are approximately 1.5 million tonnes in the stockpile, leaving what is believed to be some 4.5 million tonnes that have migrated into the Mtakuja River since the mine’s opening in 1938.

“These sediments have contaminated the Mtakuja River water and the mine sediments have resulted in high heavy metal levels in aquatic and wetland vegetation. In addition, these sediments when disturbed, are acid-producing, resulting in a lowering of pH. Recent illegal farming activities along the Mtakuja River have disturbed such sediments, resulting in a further downgrading of water quality.”

In establishing whether Geita Mine’s current operations are contributing to metal loads in sediments, four sets of water sampling have been done. Initial results suggest no cause for alarm in respect of water, but there were inconsistencies in the results from different laboratories. Sediment sampling will form part of a comprehensive study by an internationally recognised expert consultancy which has been planned to begin in the first quarter of 2009. It will hopefully also identify who is responsible for environmental degradation to the extent that it exists. The study will involve local community and regional government leadership.