Element Africa is back with another roundup of stories from the commodities industry in Africa. In Ghana, a small-scale miner was killed and four others were injured during an eviction operation at a gold mine. ExxonMobil’s plan to exit onshore oil production in Nigeria is seen as an attempt to escape its toxic legacy in the region. And plans to frack for gas in South Africa are facing criticism for their environmental impact. Let’s dive into the details!
In Ghana, the Wassa gold mine in Benso has been the site of a tragic incident. Security forces attempted to evict small-scale miners who had encroached on the mine’s concession area. Unfortunately, one person lost their life and four others were injured during the operation. Golden Star Resources, the owner of the mine, claims that these miners have been impeding their operations. The company had previously warned the miners to stop trespassing, but they continued to mine for gold in the area. This led to the violent clash between the security forces and the miners.
Moving on to Nigeria, ExxonMobil’s decision to sell its onshore and shallow-water assets in the Niger Delta has sparked controversy. Local communities in the production areas accuse the oil giant of leaving behind a devastated environment without adequately addressing pollution and compensation issues. ExxonMobil plans to focus on deep-water operations, but residents in the southeastern state of Akwa Ibom, particularly in the fishing town of Ibeno, claim that the company has not resolved spill-related claims and has neglected to remediate the contaminated land and water. The sale of assets by major oil companies in Nigeria has become a trend, with some citing a shift towards cleaner energy and security concerns. However, affected communities argue that these companies are trying to avoid responsibility for the damage caused in the Niger Delta.
Lastly, in South Africa, plans to frack for gas in the Amersfoort area of Mpumalanga province are facing opposition. Afro Energy, a subsidiary of Australian gas explorer Kinetiko Energy, has developed pilot wells for coal bed methane extraction. However, environmental justice group groundWork warns that this method of extracting gas from coal beds is harmful to the environment and undermines the transition to cleaner energy sources. The group also questions the claims made by Rhino Resources regarding drilling for helium and biogenic methane in the Free State province. The report emphasizes the need for a just transition away from coal and highlights the importance of community-led projects for sustainable energy and food production.
That’s it for this edition of Element Africa. Stay tuned for more updates on the commodities industry in Africa!