• Login
    View Item 
    •   UNZA Repository Home
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • Natural Sciences
    • View Item
    •   UNZA Repository Home
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • Natural Sciences
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Management of environmental risks arising from mining operations in Kitwe and Mufulira

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Main Document.pdf (883.6Kb)
    Date
    2020
    Author
    Nachalwe, Prisca
    Type
    Thesis
    Language
    en
    Metadata
    Show full item record

    Abstract
    Mining as an extractive industry has both positive and negative impacts. The positive impacts include economic growth and job creation whereas the negative impacts are environmental degradation and human health risks. On this premise this study was carried out in order: To i) identify risks posed by mining operations to the environment and human health in Kankoyo and Nkana West, ii) determine the extent to which the risk management strategies used by mining operators adequately address environmental and health risks in the study areas and, iii) examine the adequacy of institutional arrangements that govern environmental risk management in the mining sector. Data collection methods used in the study were a questionnaire survey, interviews, water sampling and testing. The results show that Kankoyo and Nkana West are characterised by pollution of air, water and land with Kankoyo being more affected. The prominent health problem was respiratory tract infections resulting from smelting activities at the mines with sulphur dioxide being the main air pollutant. Tests carried out on 30 water samples collected from Uchi Stream and Mwekera Stream (the control) respectively indicated that Uchi had above limit concentrations of cobalt, manganese and iron which were attributed to effluent discharged from the Nkana Mines. Uchi Stream had significantly higher (p<0.05) concentrations of copper, cobalt, manganese, iron and zinc than Mwekera Stream. Therefore, Uchi Stream was polluted by cobalt, manganese and iron from the Nkana Mines at the time of the research. The risk management strategies used by the mines were found to be inadequate for addressing environmental and health risks and the EMPs were not revised and audited as required by law. The institutional arrangements for management of mining environmental risks were not adequate as evidenced by the relevant authorities’ lack of vital monitoring equipment and human resource for ensuring that mining companies were in compliance with the environmental regulations. The study concludes that environmental risk management in the mining sector is not effectively addressing the risks posed by mining activities in Kitwe and Mufulira to the environment and human health. Therefore, there is need for Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines to implement proactive risk management strategies that will minimize mining and mineral processing risks from their operations.
    URI
    http://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/7017
    Publisher
    The University of Zambia
    Subject
    Mineral industries--Environmental aspects-- Zambia
    Description
    Thesis
    Collections
    • Natural Sciences [270]

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016  DuraSpace
    UNZA homepage | UNZA Library | Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV
     

     

    Browse

    All of UNZA RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016  DuraSpace
    UNZA homepage | UNZA Library | Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV