Overview : The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) would like to ensure that small-scale miners (SSMs) currently mining in small-scale mining hotspots comply with the requirements of the Environmental Management Act (EMA) No. 7 of 2007, along with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations No. 30 of 2012. These regulatory frameworks require EIAs to be conducted for mining and quarrying activities, given their potential negative environmental impacts. At the moment, there are four (4) small-scale mining sites in the Erongo Region, namely: Tubussis, Xoboxobos, Otjimbojo West, and Omapyu South, which are operating without Environmental Management Plans (EMPs). However, as a requirement of the EMA, mining operators require Environmental Clearance Certificates (ECC) from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) in order to carry out their mining activities legally. Each of the sites encompasses several mining claims, owned and operated by different individual persons. MME has recognized the need to enhance the quality of life for the artisanal and small-scale miners working outside of formal legal and economic systems, to help them transition to the formal system and to enhance the contribution of the mining sector to sustainable development. As such, the MME with funding from the UNDP-SEPA Environmental Governance for Natural Resources Management Programme will be facilitating the acquisition of ECCs for the four (4) sites. Against the above background, MME requires the services of a consultant or consultants to conduct EIAs for the two of the four small-scale mining hotspots identified above. |