Kenyan farmers threatened by Canadian mineral sands mine
Published by MAC on 2004-09-27
Kenyan farmers threatened by Canadian mineral sands mine
Plans to increase coastal mineral sands mining (primarily for titanium) are gearing up in Africa and Asia, including Mozambique and the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Perhaps most immediately alarming is the project now under construction by Canadian company Tiomin on farmland in eastern Kenya.
Group Opposes 'Eviction' Over Mining Project
Ngumbao Kithi, The Nation (Nairobi)
September 27, 2004
As the titanium mining company prepares to move residents from two Kwale communities to Ramisi, a group of NGOs, has opposed the plan, terming it eviction.
The Coast Rights Forum has claimed in a statement the transfer was meant to suppress opposition to the mining project.
Chairman Mwambi Mwasaru said no serious consultations had been done over the plan and that the families had been coerced into moving.
Issues on compensation and benefits to the affected families had not been concluded, he said adding: "As a trustee of the land after the project is over, I can say that the Kwale County Council is still hazy on the issues involved and its role in the land rehabilitation process."
Other pending issues were the environmental impact and the cultural rights of the Digo, whose shrines would be destroyed in the mining.
He claimed the terms of reference for compensation had not been discussed with the people affected, and no legal contracts had been signed by the parties involved.
It was unfortunate that residents of Ramisi, the area targeted for resettlement of those displaced, had not been involved in discussions, although they were an interested party.
Mr Mshenga Ruga, a Ramisi councillor, said leaders had been ignored in the resettlement plan.
Mr Mwasaru said Ramisi was occupied by the Digo, who are officially classified as squatters, while most of those to be resettled there are from upcountry.
"Who deserves to be allocated the Ramisi land? Is it the Digo who have ancestral rights to it, or others who have been compensated for loss of their lands in Nguluku and Maumba? he asked.
Mr Mwasaru asked the Government to involve the National Environmental Management Authority and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights before allowing mining to start.
Meanwhile, atraditional blessing ceremony to pave way for the shifting of 1,500 families from the titanium mining zone will be held tomorrow.
It has been organised by the miners, Tiomin Kenya, and will be held at Duncan Ndegwa primary school in Kwale.
The families are expected to officially hand over their homes for the start of the mining project, at the occasion that will also be marked by feasting.
The firm's officials led by its president J. C. Potvin are expected to conduct the event.
Anxiety Sets in Over Mining Plan
By Mshenga Mwacharo, The Nation (Nairobi)
September 23, 2004
Anxiety has gripped 1,500 farmers who are about to be displaced by a titanium mining project in Kwale.
Most are nervous about plans to move them to new places in an exercise that will see them leave homes they have lived in all their lives, and farms to which they have become attached.
Most of the affected are in Maumba and Nguluku, who will be transferred to Ramisi to pave way for the start of the project to be carried out by Tiomin Kenya.
While some have expressed full support for the project owing to its economic benefits, others are wary of the physical and psychological impact of the mining to their lives.
Those opposed to the project allege that neither the Government nor the firm has bothered to explain to them the transfer and compensation modalities.
Mr Hassan Ali from Nguluku feels that the entire transfer plan is shrouded in secrecy.
"Although we have accepted to be moved elsewhere, up to now we don't have an idea how the exercise will be carried out. This is very worrying," he says.
The father of four has lived on his five-acre farm he inherited from his father since he was born.
"I was born in the 60s and have been living here ever since. The thought of leaving my farm and settling elsewhere really worries me as this is the place to which I feel I rightfully belong," says Mr Ali, who depends on his farm for livelihood.
His crops include cashewnut, mango, citrus and coconut trees. Once the exercise begins, he will have no choice but to abandon his farm and cherished trees.
"It will be very difficult for us to start all-over again as it is impossible for them to fully compensate us for our farms. I personally feel that I have more to lose than gain from this exercise," he says.
The five acres each that the farmers have been promised is not enough, Mr Ali says, adding: "What about those with farms that are more than five acres ? How are they going to be compensated?"
He, however, says that some of the farmers are excited about the resettlement and believe they will be fully compensated.
"There is some excitement among some farmers who are eagerly waiting for the compensation money to start flowing. The only worry is that so far no one knows the actual amount that each person will get so I do not see any cause for excitement," he says.
Like other farmers, Mr Ali says that when the time comes, he will move despite his dissatisfaction with the plan.
"The Government has made up its mind by allowing the mining exercise to go ahead. Who am I to oppose it?" he says.
Mrs Amina Kivindu from Maumba is also opposed to the exercise. "The whole project is not a good idea as it will permanently interfere with the lives of affected farmers, I being one of them," she says.
The mother of four says she is upset by the thought of starting life all over again in a new home.
"When I think of abandoning my home for another foreign place, I do not feel happy at all. Starting life all over again is not a good idea," she says.
Having lived on her husband's nine-acre farm since she got married 10 years ago, Mrs Kavindu has over the years become sentimentally attached to the place and has never thought of moving.
"Our farm has mango, cashewnut, coconut and orange trees. We will make losses if we move elsewhere because all our efforts to develop this farm will go to waste," she adds.
Like Mr Ali, Mrs Kavindu is unhappy about having to go to Ramisi.
"Those who owned sugar plantations in Ramisi abandoned their farms because the area is semi-arid and I wonder how we are supposed to carry out sustainable farming under such conditions. It's better if we were allowed to look for other alternative sites on our own," she says.
She says once they receive their compensation funds, she and her husband will buy fertile land.
Mrs Teresia Mueke, a resident of Nguluku says: "If this mining project is going to affect peoples' lives this way, how can it be of any benefit?"
Though her farm is not in the mining area, she is bitter that the neighbouring Duncan Ndegwa primary school is to be moved.
"We used a lot of money to establish the school in 1974 and it is a pity that it will be moved. I am worried about the pupils who will be forced to seek education elsewhere," she says.
The school, which has 350 pupils and eight teachers, will also be moved to the the settlement scheme.
Headmaster Stanley Kimari says he is disturbed by the transfer plan, adding: "The exercise is definitely going to have a bad impact on us, as it will disrupt learning.
What complicates the issue further is that not all students and teachers are ready to move to the new site.
"Those who will remain behind will find it difficult to join other schools in the vicinity as they are already overcrowded," says Mr Kimari.
In addition, the displaced students will be forced to walk long distances to other schools, daily.
"This will present an additional burden to the children and parents," Mr Kimari says.
Most of the teachers, including Mr Kimari, will have to seek employment elsewhere since they are within the mining zones.
Teachers are worried, especially those who will not be moving with the school. We don't know what our fate will be," he says.
Other farmers such as Mr Peter Mwangangi, do not think the transfer plan is a bad idea as long as they are compensated fairly.
I am prepared to move to Ramisi as long as the Government provides the necessary basic infrastructure, he says, adding that he is prepared to sacrifice his 30-acre farm at Maumba for the sake of the project's success.
"We are happy with the project as it will provide a lot of employment opportunities besides earning the country foreign exchange," he says.
His farm, which contains mango, cashewnut, coconut and citrus trees, has been identified as one of the possible mining zones.
Having lived at the farm since 1965, when he was born, Mr Mwangangi, however, says the exercise requires proper planning and coordination for it to be successful.
"Moving an entire homestead is not an easy task. Here we are talking about moving not only one, but several homesteads, and this makes it a complicated affair that requires good planning," he says.
He says that as long as adequate modalities are put in place to ensure the smooth running of the exercise, there is no cause for alarm.
Also in support of the exercise is Mrs Petronila Makundi, who owns a farm at Nguluku.
She says: "I support this project because it is beneficial, not only to the local community, but also to the country as a whole."
Married with eight children, Mrs Makundi is willing to be moved, if adequately compensated for her farm that has mango, coconut, cashewnut and orange trees.
"If I am paid about Sh10 million as compensation, I am prepared to move," she adds.
Kwale District Commissioner Fred Mutsami, on the other hand, seeks to allays farmers' fears over the resettlement plan.
"The Government has identified ample and suitable land for the resettlement at Mrima, within the outskirts of Ramisi. We have also taken stock of all existing infrastructure that will be affected and put forward provisions for their replacement at the new sites," he says.
He adds that all basic infrastructure including water facilities, roads and schools would be provided for at Mrima where two resettlement villages will be put up.
"Between 2,000 to 4,000 acres would be set aside for resettlement with the Government and Tiomin Kenya providing funds for putting up infrastructure," the DC says.
"Most of these people have no problem moving, but their sentimental attachment to their homes and farms might present some psychological effects. However, counsellors will be provided to guide the people through. Our vision is to make this project a model of a modern settlement scheme," he says.
According to the DC, each farmer will be allocated five acres of farm land in addition to an extra area for building.
Already a government-led committee has been constituted to oversee the exercise and is expected to begin its work this month.
"The work of this committee will be to ensure that all aspects on the movement are adequately addressed," Mr Mutsami says.
Echoing similar sentiments is the manager of Tiomin Kenya, Mr Colin Forbes, who says all matters concerning the movement will be handled by the committee.
Kenyan president ticks Kwale
Rebecca Keenan, MiningNews.net
October 04, 2004
The president of Kenya has told Canadian mineral sands hopeful Tiomin Resources the approval for its Kwale titanium project from the minister of finance will be "expedited without delay" clearing the way for the project to move to the financing and implementation phase.
Tiomin president and chief executive Jean-Charles Potvin met with President Mwai Kibaki, who reportedly "urged the company to commence operations as soon as possible". President Kibaki said the project was a manifestation of Kenya's desire to attract foreign direct investment.
Construction of the project is expected to begin next year with commercial production forecast for late 2006. Production was originally anticipated in late 2002 but was delayed because of Kwale landowner protests.
A feasibility study completed three years ago put development costs at US$137 million for 14-year project. Annual production during the first six years would total 330,000t of ilmenite, 77,000t of rutile, and 37,000t of zircon. A review of the project completed this year by Ausenco indicated an operating pre tax cash flow of US$35 million for a 13-year mine life with a payback of 3.4 years.
The project has a resource of 254 million tonnes of mineralised sands at an average grade of 3.48% titanium heavy mineral as estimated by SRK. The proven and probable reserves of 140.8 million tonnes were calculated from the Central and South Dune areas which are being designed to be mined at an initial annual average rate of 10Mt.
Three other coastal deposits have been outlined with a total resource of over 950Mt of indicated and 1.9 billion tonnes of inferred mineral sands. These deposits are expected to be developed once Kwale is in production