The Buzi and Pungwe basins in Mozambique are facing several problems, largely due to gold mining activities. The impact of these activities has resulted in water pollution caused by the improper treatment and discharge of wastewater from gold mining. This issue became a major concern for ARA-Centro,IP and environmental organisations working in the central region of Mozambique.
An old problem
For several decades, the border of Mozambique and Zimbabwe has been known for gold mining. The increase in mining activity in the region has led to an increase in the illegal discharge of wastewater, resulting in water pollution. Gold mining in this area is associated with negative impacts on water management, public health, the environment, and other spheres.
Licensing and Enforcement of effluent discharge to reduce water pollution
Effective water quality management is essential to ensure adequate sanitation and access to clean water by the local community. As the organisation responsible for water quality management in the region, ARA Centro started to tackle the gold mining challenges in the Buzi and Pungwe basins.
Under the Blue Deal partnership, ARA Centro is starting to work on licensing the gold mining companies in the central region of Mozambique for wastewater discharge. This work is starting within the Buzi basin and will be extended to the Pungwe basin after favourable results are achieved.
Increased awareness among businesses and the Government
ARA Centro’s intervention is focused on raising awareness among gold mining companies on licensing requirements and best practices for wastewater discharge. In addition to these actions, there is also a strong interest in raising discussions concerning this topic at the highest level of Mozambique’s government to not only end illegal wastewater discharges and improve water quality but also fight back against all the other socio-economic and environmental problems related to gold mining in the region.
Stakeholder Meetings
In 2023, a live meeting was organized by the Blue Deal partnership to streamline a project plan and collect inputs from several stakeholders, including private companies in the region, to address the gold mining issue. This year, the activity is continuing with additional online and live stakeholder meetings, an inventory of mining companies in the area, and the development of a water quality monitoring plan by ARA Centro.
While the challenges associated with gold mining activities in the Buzi and Pungwe basins are old, the current collaborative intervention between ARA Centro and other private and public entities provides hope for a sustainable solution.
