Group five at Tikumbe mines in Zambia.
Photo: Jonathan Hamisi, SGU.
Mine waste and artisanal and small-scale mining in focus at ITP308 in 2023
Another year has passed and the ITP program has been active with several activities during the year, including the start of two new groups and two regional conferences in Zambia and Rwanda. A brief summary of the year follows. Get a good view of the ITP308 programme in the film below, including interviews with some of the participants from 2023.
In March, Group 5 met in Kitwe, Zambia for a regional conference. Group 5 consisted of government officials from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia. The Swedish ambassador to Zambia, Johan Hallenborg, paid a visit to inaugurate the concluding conference, which focused on mining sustainability. During conference week, the group visited the Konkola Coppermine, Mimbula, and Tikumbe mines in the Copperbelt and presented their change projects. The change projects were related to managing the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector and handling mining waste and cyanide containers.
Left: Group 5 visiting the Konkola copper mine, Zambia. Right: Ambassador of Sweden speaking to the group.
Group 5, in-depth discussions during the conference.
In May, we welcomed Group 7 to the program with two weeks of online training in Kigali and Nairobi. Group 7 comprises colleagues from Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Group 7 during lesson in Kigali (left) and in group discussion in Nairobi (right).
The second regional conference of the year was held in Rwanda in August with the participants from Group 6. It was opened by Martina Fors Mohlin from the Swedishy Embassy in Kigali. The group visited two small scale mines, Nyakabingo and Muscha near Kigali, as well as LuNa smelter and the East Group Minerals’ comptoir located in Kigali. The field visits were followed by two conference days with change project presentations day one, and government authorities discussing challenges and opportunities in mining in Rwanda as well as a concluding presentation by ITSCI about traceability and due diligence in Rwanda on day two.
Group 6 during the regional conference in Kigali, Rwanda, visiting East Group Minerals.
Finally, in October, group 8 started its training with participants from Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia. The online training took place in Kitwe, Zambia and Nairobi, Kenya. In Kitwe there was also an alumni dinner where participants from several previous ITP 308 groups joined cohort 8.
Group 8 during lesson and alumni dinner in Kitwe, Zambia.
The outlook for 2024 includes the start of the program’s final training group in May as well as two regional conferences on mining and sustainability. Keep an eye out for more information about the training at the Sida website:
International Training Programmes – Sida
Read more about the ITP308 – Mine water and mine waste management
Last reviewed 2023-11-06