Kayelekera mine

Kayelekera mine is an open cut uranium mine near Karonga in Malawi, Africa and is the country's largest mine. It is owned and operated by Australian mining company, Paladin Energy which received a license to develop the mine in 2007. The mine officially opened in 2009. As of 2014, the mine is in care and maintenance mode owing to a depressed uranium market.[1] While in production, the mine exported containers of uranium oxide via the port of Walvis Bay.[2] The mine has not been profitable for its operators and has met opposition from organisations and individuals concerned about the mine's tax concessions, operation, adherence to law and regulation and its potential impacts on human and environmental safety.[3][4]

Incidents

Worker fatalities

Khwima Phiri

On July 30, 2013 mine employee Khwima Phiri was killed after being struck by a wheel that he was inflating.[4]

Francis Mikonda

Francis Mikonda commenced work as a process operator at the Kayelekera mine on October 23, 2010. In 2012, he began to suffer from leg pains. An MRI scan of Mikonda's lumbar region conducted on December 28, 2012 revealed "diffuse marrow replacement and diffuse spondylosis from L2-3 to L5-S1, with moderate spiral stenosis at L4-5 and irritation of the right L4 nerve root." On January 17, 2013 he collapsed at work and was admitted to hospital suffering from fractures of left and right thigh bones. His right leg required amputation. On September 11, 2013, Mikondo died from cancer. Paladin denied that Mikonda's death was the result of exposure to radioactive substances.[5]

Transport spill of uranium oxide

In February 2014, a truck rollover resulted in the rupture of a container of uranium oxide.[2]

Storm surge liquid discharge

In January 2015, a stormwater surge caused the liner in a plant run-off tank to rupture, resulting in approximately 50 litres of liquid overflowing from a bunded area. Media reports claimed that the mine had begun to discharge wastes into the local river system, which Paladin refuted. Paladin stated that such reports originated from 'hostile' NGOs and contained "numerous blatant falsehoods and misleading statements, intended to cause alarm and distress in communities living in the vicinity of Kayelekera and the local river system."[6]

References

  1. ↑ "INSIDE MALAWI’S LARGEST MINE: PARLIAMENTARY VISIT TO PALADIN AFRICA’S KAYELEKERA URANIUM MINE". Mining in Malawi. 2014-11-23. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ker, Peter (2014-02-17). "Paladin Energy spills radioactive material at African mine". Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  3. ↑ Kumwenda, Timonwe (2015-01-10). "Paladin's Walker must go, Kyungu tells Malawi govt". Nyasa Times. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Malawian dies on duty at Kayelekera uranium mine in Karonga". Nyasa Times. 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  5. ↑ "Paladin's Kayelekera mine's sacked employee dies". Nyasa Times. 2013-09-13. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  6. ↑ Sidler, Vicky (2015-01-07). "Spill at Paladin’s Kayelekera mine in Malawi after storm". MiningReview.com. Retrieved 2015-02-04.

Coordinates: 9°59′34″S 33°41′53″E / 9.9928°S 33.6981°E

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