Press Release – Zircon Mining on the Abéné and Niafrang Dune

On February 20, 2023, the company G-SAND SARL obtained a small-scale mining permit for zircon in the Abéné area, covering part of the village of Niafrang. This mining permit was issued under conditions that are clearly contrary to applicable legislation, particularly regarding environmental protection and the participation of affected populations.

Indeed, the permit was granted even though no environmental impact study had been submitted, in violation of regulations that expressly require such a study for any project likely to have an impact on the environment. Furthermore, the population of the village of Niafrang was denied the opportunity to participate in the public hearing scheduled for the presentation of the environmental and social impact study, even though the law guarantees public participation at all stages of decisions impacting their environment.

With the mining of the Abéné dune proceeding without any certificate of compliance being issued, we are witnessing a decrease in the water quantity in our village’s well and its potential pollution.

Faced with this situation, the people of Niafrang, through their lawyer, have formally submitted a request to establish a mining protection zone on the Niafrang dune and have filed an appeal for the cancellation of the small-scale mining permit. This dune is a vital natural barrier against rising water levels, and its preservation is essential for the safety and survival of the village and its adaptation to climate change. The creation of such a mining protection zone is in line with the principles of sustainable natural resource management, risk prevention, and the effective participation of populations in decision-making.

We therefore call on the competent authorities to recognize the urgency of the situation, to suspend the mining permit, to enforce the legislation regarding impact studies and public participation, and to grant the request to establish a mining protection zone on the Niafrang dune, in the interest of the inhabitants and the preservation of the local environment.