Several gold mines in northern Niger, run by a Chinese company, have been ordered to temporarily close after dozens of animals died from sewage, local authorities told AFP on Sunday, France24 reports.
Herders around the town of Tabelot pointed to the Sahara SARL mines as the only explanation for the death of their animals, saying the region was not suffering from drought or any epidemic.
“We counted 24 dead in two days, and at the end of April we finally realized that the sacrifice was caused by the harmful products in the water that the mines were discharging,” said Youssaf Houssa, the head of Tamannit, one of the affected villages.
Almou Akoli, who lives in Fasso, another village, said he had lost 16 animals, while some of his “neighbours cannot keep track of the number of animals they have lost”.
The Chinese company Sahara SARL began mining for gold in January in the middle of grasslands where there is almost no natural water source.
Following a visit by police investigators on Friday, Niger’s Ministry of Mines ordered the temporary closure of at least four of the mining sites, according to the sources.
“The Chinese have suspended the work and we are monitoring our animals,” Houssa said.
Private local newspaper Air Info said an official report confirmed the “catastrophe” was caused by chemicals used in the mines, which threaten the water table in what is already a hostile environment for livestock.
Tags: Chineseowned gold mines Niger closed herders report animal deaths
