It appears that the potentially devastating soda ash extraction project in Lake Natron that came to public focus back in 2007 has not gone away yet. Birdlife International has just published in their website the revelation that a Tanzanian Government Agency is seeking to buy mining equipment for large-scale soda ash extraction from Lake Natron – the most important breeding site for Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor [Near Threatened] in the world.
According to Birdlife, The Tanzania Investment Centre, a Tanzanian Government Agency, is inviting interested parties to quote for the “Supply of machinery and equipment, as well as trucks in a greenfield soda ash/caustic soda processing plant”. The advert was placed on behalf of KDCL Minerals (T) Ltd – a private company which states that the $US 125 million project at Lake Natron in Northern Tanzania will produce approximately 200,000 tonnes of soda ash annually.
This is very disturbing and shows lack of commitment by the Tanzanian government which had promised that the project, which was opposed on ecological grounds, would not proceed before a new Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is conducted after the original inadequate and inappropriate ESIA was withdrawn. Talking about the renewed assault on the flamingo’s only breeding ground in east africa for the last 50 years, Lota Melamari, CEO of Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST-BirdLife in Tanzania) said:
An advert for the supply of mining equipment, and a recent announcement of the expansion of the railway and building of new port at Tanga to handle soda ash all point to deliberate efforts to keep alive the intention of mining Lake Natron’s soda ash.
Three-quarters of the world’s population of Lesser Flamingo live in East Africa – and all depend on Tanzania’s Lake Natron as a breeding site. The development and associated infrastructure could permanently prevent the birds from nesting at Lake Natron, spelling doom for the region’s spectacular flamingo flocks.
In 2007, various NGO mostly in Africa, under a coalition named the Lake Natron Consultative Group, opposed the project as it was proposed by the giant Indian conglomerate, Tata Chemicals, and Tanzania’s National Development Corporation under a joint venture they called the Lake Natron Resources Limited.
I followed the unfolding story back in 2007 and posted extensively on The Waterhole blog until the government of Tanzania beat a retreat. Now that the government is attempting to sneak in this ugly project that could result in the Pink Armageddon that I spoke of two years ago, it is time again to pick up the tools of war and defend the beautiful birds that breed only at Lake Natron.
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Feb 28th Liza H USD 11.00
7 Comments
The Roman People about this question use this expression “dura cervix”…
Well, this is depressing news. I followed this story, too, and I’m shocked the the government is using a back-door method to forward this project.
So, who do we pester about it this time? I’m ready to write some letters again.
s.
I want to take action against this project. I am an American wildlife artist– and am currently developing new paintings of the lesser flamingos that I researched at Lake Nakuru. I would be willing to use my lesser flamingo paintings-in-progress as a means to raise awareness of the need to prevent the disturbance of the flamingos sole nesting ground at Lake Natron. Perhaps I could devote an entire website to the creation of an epic-scale painting, allowing people to watch the painting live on camera, something like that. Anything to raise awareness of the importance and wonder this incredible wildlife spectacle. Let me know what you think and we’ll get started on this! Thanks for much for your integrity in taking a stand against this asinine project.
Who DO we pester?
What can we do?
Dear Charles, Sheryl all.
Anyone who is interested with Lake Natron story can get in touch with me. I coordinate the Lake Natron Consultative Group here at BirdLife International, Africa Partnership Secretariat, Nairobi.
I will be more than glad to discuss how we can stop this. Its a pity it keeps popping up!
My email address is ken.mwathe@birdlife.or.ke
I recieved a special alert from the Lake Natron Consultative Group (LNCG) yesterday which says, in part, that:
“We believe there is no way soda ash mining can co-exist with the breeding of these beautiful birds and promotion of the livelihoods of the local communities. Any efforts to revive the soda ash mining proposal will therefore be opposed, as in the past, at all levels: locally, regionally and internationally”
The group is still seeking the official government position on this from the Tanzania government and I will keep you up to date on the direction that the action to save this lake will go. Their statement says, “We will try to get factual information from the authorities and will keep you all informed”
I will post the entire alert as sent by the LNCG tomorrow.
Congrats to all who are taking initiative to ensure that the soda mining project isn’t going on.I am an environmental student at Kenyatta university Kenya and protecting endangered species is one of my study area.L.Natron serves as a pride both locally, internationaly.Lets continue advocating for its protection.Thank you