You are here

African Workshop on Uranium Mining

Which social and environmental impact does uranium mining have? Which aspects are relevant regarding uranium mining and how can you intervene in the mining planning process? How can you prevent to face a situation with dreadful consequences of uranium mining like the civil society and environment face in Niger? What are the best strategies to target important stakeholders?

These and many more questions were addressed during the successful Training Workshop Uranium Mining and its Impact. It took place in Yaoundé (Cameroon) from 28 – 31 January 2014 and mainly targeted African Civil Society Organizations. Civil society organizations from Cameroon, Mali, Tanzania and The Netherlands came together to discuss several aspects of this topic and to present the progress made in the project so far. The basis for this Training Workshop is the project Enhancing transparency in the uranium chain and supporting responsible practices; uranium mining: a comparison of producing and near-producing countries.

Monseigneur Sébastien Mongo-Behon, Secretary General of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, stated in his inaugural address: “Operating companies often provide uranium ore at the lowest cost while causing huge environmental, health and social damages to the detriment of local populations.” One of the focal points of the mentioned project is to raise awareness about the impact uranium mining has for society and environment and that objective information provision on this type of mining and the fuel chain as well as governance implications are strongly lagging behind.

The project partners of the aforementioned project presented first results of their Case Studies describing the situation in their countries, conditions and risks. They also shared the experience they had with governmental institutions, involved companies, NGOs and other organizations, shared knowledge about uranium exploration and more background information. Later on, the next steps in the project and policy influencing options were discussed.

An adjacent workshop with all Training Workshop participants and external guests took place in a different location on 29th January 2014, organized by Publish What You Pay Canada. Claire Woodside (Publish What You Pay Canada) and Susan Maples (Infrastructur Development Partnership LLP) focused on transparency and accountability in the Extractive Sector when they gave this workshop and discussed with the participants. The participants learned how to find information in an easier way and how to request needed data. Another focal point of that adjacent workshop was to show the ins and outs of contracts and how to interpret them. This could help civil society organizations in dealing with contracts they wish to analyze and/ or to deal better with or to prevent conflicts.

Furthermore, Ali Moussa Dogo, an expert from Niger and knowledge exchange partner of the mentioned project, gave insight in the aftermath and ongoing effects of uranium mining in his country, also illustrating it with a demonstrative documentary (“L‘Uranium et Nous”). Among other things, he explained essential basic information regarding uranium mining, processes and criteria for responsible practices. The participants were engaged in discussions on several topics in this field with him and each other.

The Training Workshop was organized by the National Commission for Justice and Peace (Service National de Justice et Paix / SNJP) of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) and World Information Service on Energy (WISE). Thorsten Nilges, David Bayang, Justin Mabouth, Edward Dinka, Catherine Imang and Anastasie Essa from SNJP and Mark van der Wal (IUCN NL) co-organized / gave the Training Workshop together with the project coordinator and member of the Organizing Committee Ulrike Lerche (WISE) who also facilitated the Training Workshop and hold presentations as many of the participants. Media from Cameroon covered the event as well. One enriching and challenging aspect of the Training Workshop was the international setting – including language barriers between French and English, solved by the tremendous help of bilingual participants.  

The Training Workshop left many of its participants not only with a lot of updates and answers, but also with a number of new questions and the hope to live in a world without nuclear energy – particularly without one of the crucial starting points of the nuclear chain: uranium exploration and exploitation.

Last, but not least, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone involved in the preparation and execution of this event, the commitment to the topic and all efforts of all participants.

More information:

The core African project partners of the aforementioned project are: the National Commission for Justice and Peace (Service National de Justice et Paix / SNJP) of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC)Association Malienne pour la Conservation de la Faune et de l’Environnement (AMCFE) from Mali and the Civil Society Organization from Tanzania Civil Education is the Solution for Poverty and Environmental Management (CESOPE). This project is supported by the National Committee of The Netherlands of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN NL) which is leading the Ecosystem Alliance Programme and the project is supported and coordinated by World Information Service on Energy (WISE). It is also related to the responsibility involved stakeholders e.g. in Europe (as URENCO and politics) should take and how transparency should be enhanced.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact Ulrike Lerche (energytransition@wiseinternational.org).