A petition to block the renewal of the contract of Senegal Mines, the company which exploits clay in Mbodiène, south of Dakar, has collected more than 1,700 signatures.
With our correspondent in Dakar, Thea Olivier
The list of accusations is long: abandoned agricultural activities, respiratory diseases, silting up of the lagoon, few jobs created… Here are the “consequences” of the exploitation of clay in the neighboring concession of the village of Mbodiène denounced by the local populations in a petition. While 50,000 tonnes of industrial clay are extracted there each year, local young people denounce pollution and its effects on the environment and health.
The inhabitants therefore reject the renewal of the Senegal Mines contract, which ends this year after 25 years of operation.
” Our children have asthma and we can no longer cultivate our land because of the dust… We don’t get any benefit from this mine “, protests André Sarr, member of the collective which launched the petition.
“ For all these years, we have been doing actions to support health and education. We also try to improve the environment with the planting of trees “, answers Alfonso Gonzales, general manager of Senegal Mines, 15% owned by the State, the rest belonging to a Spanish multinational.
The contract renewal request is still being examined by the services of the Ministry of Mines. ” We have initiated meetings to restore dialogue and so that the actions of the mining company have a greater impact on the area. “, says Roseline Carlos, director general of mines at the ministry.