SMALL-SCALE MINERS ARE NEGLECTED

The large mining companies dwarf Namibia’s small-scale mining sector. Gideon Haingura, who has been working with small-scale miners, says small-Scale miners are neglected and termed illegal operators. The Extractor speaks to Gideon about his work and experiences.

1. First, who is Gideon Haingura?

I am a professional mineral exploration geologist and GIS/RS Specialist with more than 12 years of experience in Brown and Greenfields responsible for mineral exploration, reconnaissance, management, supervising, planning, QAQC, and project coordination.

I was previously involved in various mineral exploration projects, including Lofdal Heavy Rare Earths Elements (Namibian biggest HREE deposit), Florida Base Metals, Marinka Squelle Rare Earth Element, and Otjikondo Diamond as a Project geologist.

As a Research Associate at the Namibia University of Science and Technology at NUST, I am responsible for Artificial intelligence, Wildlife monitoring technology, innovation, real-time platform administrator, EarthRanger, and African wildlife tracking.

I have also participated in Intensive Research (IRES) program organized by US universities. Occasionally, I am involved in mineral projects as a mineral investment investor advisor, agent, presenter, EIA consultant, and MC/EPL/ML application/renewal admin.

I also served in several companies specializing in Geology and GIS/Remote Sensing as a Director and Senior Consultant. I am a Senior Certified Professional Geoscientist registered with the Geoscience Council of Namibia. My passion is to use my knowledge and skills to change lives sustainably.

2. You have been working with small-scale miners in Namibia. What is your role?

Yes, I have been actively involved in the small-scale mining sector as a geologist and mineral application rights consultant. Most recently, I was a Country Coordinator for Namibia under the TB in Mining Sector (TIMS) project, working on Mapping artisanal and small-scale miners in 8 countries across East, Central, and Southern Africa (ECSA).

The project is funded by Global Fund through ECSA, and a Geo-hub company from Zimbabwe contracted me as Country Coordinator Geotrend Research Data Solutions. It was running on their behalf in Namibia.

The project objective was to carry out a study to estimate the population size of Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners (ASMs) and hotspots and the extent to which they access occupational Health and Tuberculosis (TB) services in Namibia.

3. What are your qualifications?

I have acquired a Hons bachelor of science degree in Geology and an MSc degree in GIS and Remote sensing. I am professionally registered as a Senior Certified Professional Geoscientist with the Geoscience Council of Namibia.

4. When did you start working with small-scale miners?

I started working with small-scale miners as a geologist and EPL/Mining Claims Consultant. I can say, roughly, I have been in the small-scale mining industry for more than 12 years.

5. What inspired you to work with small-scale miners?

I was inspired by the daily hardship and challenges ASM faced, trying hard to provide food and shelter for their loved ones. Small-Scale miners are most neglected and termed to be illegal operators. Thus, it was a need to understand their plights. Another reason I was very inspired by those women working hard in small-scale mines as proud owners just put something on the table.

6. Would you know the number of active small-scale miners in Namibia?

Namibia has a lot of small-scale miners; recently, we were trying to map them to find their estimated numbers. They are registered with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, MME, but most are inactive as they don’t have the technical and financial muscle to develop them. Based on the MME database, they are close to 1000 small-scale miners, while applications are many.

7. How can you describe small-scale miners’ contribution to the economy?

Despite ASM accounting for low production in terms of mining output, their contribution to the economy is massive. ASM is doing a lot to assist the government with the high unemployment rate; it is also one of the alternative sources of income needed to start other businesses or fund school fees and medical expenses. In the event of a drought-stricken environment, ASM has helped a lot, and poverty has been eradicated in a number of districts. Most people are self-employed, including women. And also, those uneducated small-scale miners can still employ others who are often poor and cannot work in formal sectors. Indirect empowerment is done, and some money is sent back to the village to assist families, as well as indirectly contributing to VAT from their sales. Lastly, some ASM brings in foreign currency and skill transfers.

8. Which minerals do small-scale miners focus mainly on?

Small-scale miners are unpredictable; some mines are based on traditional while others are based on trends or markets. For instance, lithium is in demand in Namibia, and most small-scale miners are busy with lithium, graphite, tin, and copper. The traditional ones most mine the dimension stones such as marble, granite, and semi-precious minerals mostly found in Erongo and Brandberg Mountains.

9. What are the main challenges small-scale miners face?

For starters, the majority sees ASM as illegal miners and not a legit business but a quick buck scheme.

• Most ASM do not have the technical and financial resources to start and access markets.
• ASM lack knowledge on applying for their mining rights and other licenses involved.
• They lack the equipment and technology to increase their productivity and work efficiency.
• Lack of transport needs to assist them with mining and visiting governmental ministries responsible for mining.
• There is no good associations or mining group to help them with sharing knowledge and skills related to mining or clean technology to minimize environmental impact.
• ASM does not have legal documents and tends to mine on security and guarantee that they are known by other local miners, therefore do see a value in obtaining a mining license. As a result, most of their areas are taken by others, and conflict arises.
• There is a conflict or a rise in tension between EPL holders based on consent issues as ASM is forced to get consent from EPL holders in some areas while the ASM has been mining in the same area for a very long without legal documents.
• There is poor update in terms of mining status or abandoned sites as ASM does not report their mining activities, and MME do not follow/ lack of inspection.
• There is a big knowledge and skill gap between large and small-scale miners on issues of environmental and safety concerns.
• In some ASM sites, there is a lack of water and good sanitation.

10. How can the challenges be resolved?

Both regulators and players can solve ASM challenges; in a nutshell, both government ministries responsible for mining and small-scale miners should be on the same page as, at the current moment, there is a huge gap between them.

Most ASM complained that government does not value them despite their contribution to the sector and social development. Therefore, the mining regulators should make things easier for ASM, treat them as important players, and start valuing them. Once they are on the same page, then the government will have a better legal framework to protect them and remove some barriers, such as access to finance, funders, a fast-licensing process, and access to geological info and mining skills/equipment. Government should positively promote ASM and encourage big players, such as productive miners, to work together and form cooperations and working groups/contact points.

Government and other large miners should initiate funding strategies, educational programs, and health and environmental awareness as most ASM does not follow safety and health protocols as big miners.

The most crucial challenges in ASM are decentralization; most ASM is a start-up and does not have the finance to travel to Windhoek nor education on online registration to apply for mining claims and mining license.

ASM can also help with capacity building through volunteering and crowdfunding/charity to assist them with the technology and equipment needed to increase their production and work efficiency.

It is common knowledge that ASM eradicates poverty and provides livelihoods to some drought-stricken areas as well as an alternative source of income to those who are unemployed and do not have land for crop production. ASM laws and policies should be relaxed until most ASM are educated, as there is a big knowledge gap.

Lastly, the government should initiate and mediate the small-scale miners and farm owners on the issue of farm accessibility as well as diffuse some conflict between EPL and small-scale owners.

11. Do you think small-scale miners have a future in a highly mechanized sector?

Of course, ASM has a big future in the mechanized sector as long as they are transformed and educated. Most of them do understand their challenges and way to solve them. Small scale sector is usually underrated or deemed as an informal business with a bad connotation; however, if one looks at the impact they contribute to socio-economic development is massive. According to Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Mineral and Sustainable Development (IGF) stated that most critical metals are sourced from ASM, and ASM contribute about 80 per cent of gemstones and more than 20 per cent of diamond derived from ASM as well as account for more than 25 per cent of global tantalum production. These are critical minerals needed for green energy technology and high-tech equipment and hardware, chips, semiconductors, magnetic-powered tech, etc.

12. How do you rate small-scale-miners in Namibia to those in other countries?

Based on other peers involved in the TIMS project, our small-scale miners in Namibia seem small in magnitude and size. I saw from other countries in SADC that small-scale mines are massive and employ many people but lack the tech and finance to run as a mine.