The Proposed Expansion of the existing Gene and Gokona Pits (the Project) is located within the Tarime District in the Mara Region of Tanzania. The proposed Project is owned by North Mara Gold Mine (NMGM). an exploration and mining company which is 80% owned by Barrick and 16% owned by the Government of Tanzania (GoT) under a joint entity called Twiga Corporation. The Project area fats under existing Special Mining Licence (SML 17/96). The Project spans across four main wards, namely. Nyamwaga, Nyarokoba, Kbasuka and Kama loo and comprises five villages: Komarera. Genkuru. Msege, Kewanja and Nyakunguru.
For the continuation of operations at NMGM and consequent benefits to Tanzania’s economy. an expansion of the Gokona and Gene open pits is proposed. Over the years. NMGM has confined gold exploration which has determined further economically feasible reserves along these existing pits.
To implement the Project. an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required as stipulated in the Environmental Management Act. 2004, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations of 2005 and its amendments of 2018 together with the Mining Act. 2010.
NMGM has jointly appointed Derby Wells Environmental and PAULSAM Geo-engineering Limited to undertake the EIA Study for the Project. The study will investigate the Project’s positive and negative environmental and social impacts to inform a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan for the execution of the Project.
In terms of the regulatory process an Application and Scoping Study is being submitted to the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) to initiate the process blowing which the detailed EIA investigations wit be undertaken. Any person having an interest, concern or special knowledge relation to potential environmental and social impacts of the proposed Project may contact or submit written comments to
A Stakeholder Engagement and Public Consultation Process will be undertake as part of the ESIA Process where further information relating to the Project will be shared
