In Senegal, Eramet’s subsidiary, Eramet Grande Côte (GCO), is accused of destroying the environment and precipitating a social and economic crisis in Lompoul, in the northwest of the country. This mining activity, which extends over 445,000 hectares along the Senegalese coast, is causing indignation among residents and local associations.
Destruction of the environment and agricultural land
Gora Gaye, mayor of the commune of Diokoul Diawrigne, is one of the most fervent opponents of this exploitation. For several months, he has been waging a fight against the impact of GCO on agricultural land and the environment. Mining, which began in 2013, has gradually transformed this region of dunes and food crops into a desert. The company mainly extracts zircon, but also rutile, ilmenite and leucoxene, minerals used in various industries such as construction and nuclear energy.
The landscape has been profoundly modified: entire dunes have been razed, thousands of tons of sand have been extracted every day using gigantic dredges, leaving behind devastated lands. Before the arrival of GCO, this area, particularly Niayes, was one of the most fertile in Senegal, providing nearly 80% of national vegetable production. The mine not only destroyed the ecosystem, but it also forced thousands of farmers to leave their land.
Social and economic degradation of local communities
The social impact of mining is equally alarming. Thousands of people lost their land and were relocated to resettlement sites, often in precarious conditions. Former farmers now find themselves in cramped houses, without viable sources of income. Women who sold souvenirs to tourists lost their jobs, as did workers at local tourism businesses, whose businesses were wiped out by the mine’s advance.
The village of Lompoul, once popular with tourists for its desert, is disappearing under the onslaught of machines. The Lompoul dune area, which attracted filmmakers and travelers, is being transformed into a desolate mining site. The situation is such that even the Ecolodge de Lompoul, a local tourist operator, now finds itself threatened by GCO’s operations.
Water management and environmental concerns
Another major problem raised by residents is access to water. The massive pumping carried out by GCO has disrupted the water tables, leading to a reduction in the water level in the wells, a situation which seriously affects market gardeners in the region. Reportedly, it is now necessary to dig deeper to access water, an untenable situation for local farmers. GCO, for its part, rejects the accusations and assures that its operation does not harm the water bodies used by farmers.
Insufficient compensation and land dispossession
Farmers affected by mining denounce paltry compensation, well below the losses they have suffered. The amounts of compensation, according to several testimonies, are based on scales dating from 1974, and have never been revised since. Many producers lost land that brought them considerable income. Those who dared to oppose this expropriation were victims of harassment and intimidation.
The tacit support of the authorities and the fight for justice
Despite protests and accusations of environmental and social abuses, Senegalese authorities continue to support GCO. Local elected officials are accused of complicity with the mining company, thus reinforcing the feeling of abandonment of local populations. In 2023, a report from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) revealed that GCO made significant payments to local authorities, raising questions about the ethics of these transactions.
However, a wind of change seems to be blowing. Several Senegalese MPs, notably from the Pastef party, recently called for the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry into GCO’s activities, advocating for a moratorium on the mine’s activities until a full assessment of the environmental and social impact is achieved.
The uncertain future of the Lompoul region
The residents of Lompoul and neighboring villages are fighting for the return of their land and for a future where their livelihoods are protected. Gora Gaye and other local leaders have warned that if the government does not respond quickly, they will organize blockades to prevent GCO from continuing its activities.
Moctar FICUU / VivAfrik
Related News :