money for communities to operate iron ore mine, page-7

Local people want/expect more...Improvement of current medical treatment center and setting up training program for jobs, business subcontractors...

Cameroon: Extraction of iron ore Mbalam, Cam Iron does not meet the expectations of people
Prosper Mimbo
April 13, 2010

http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/201004130913.html

Cameroon - Communicating on April 12 long-term strategy for the proposed mining of iron ore Mballam in the Eastern Region, Cam Iron, a Cameroonian society created through a partnership between the Australian company Sundance Resources and shareholders Cameroon Development Project Mbalam, wanted to respect his approach to working with stakeholders namely: local communities, NGOs and ministries, in order to obtain satisfactory environmental and social performance.

The project Mbalam will produce, according to Ai agency, 35 million tonnes of iron ore per year high grade. The life of the mine, which will exceed 30 years of operation, will be done in several phases. The 1st in which the exploitation of high-grade hematite (HHT), which contains more than 60% iron will last 10 years. The 2nd case of the operation of the itabirite whose content is about 38% iron concentrate, is enriched with high content. It will take at least 20 years. Extract, it will be transported by rail or by pipeline, and both options will generate the same management requirements with respect to the control of hunting and game trafficking in forest areas newly accessible.

For managers of Cam Iron, the infrastructure will be designed to have minimal impact. So the railroad avoid largest communities and nature reserves in its path. The construction of facilities that meet high quality standards and ensuring environmental controls and a system for managing health, safety and environment (HSE) in accordance to ISO 14001, will be implemented. On another level, for community development, protection of wildlife and indigenous peoples, Cam Iron provides for the creation of a fund Sustainability ,3 to 5 million dollars per annum in respect of profits after taxes. 5 billion dollars in taxes, fees and other charges will be levied by the government.

The acquisition of land for the project through the process of declaration of public utility (DUP) in 2010, the commencement of construction of the port towards the end of 2010, and railroad and mining infrastructure between 2011 and 2013, the start of actual production (2014 to 2039), are indicators that confirm the effectiveness of the proposed iron ore Mbalam.

However, a large number of people attending the presentation, came back disappointed because the leadership of Cam Iron, who submitted a battery of requirements (eviction, no hunting, no poaching, ...) to indigenous Peoples victims. They remained silent on the fate of the pygmies who use forest resources for their livelihood and cultural life throughout the project area, particularly around the mine sites and the proposed port.

The basis of medical data is the component that has most shocked. Mbalam located in the area of health Ngoile covers 26 villages with a population of about 6,000 people, with only one medical center district (MAC) with 15 beds, 2 integrated health centers (Nkolakaye and Mbalam) and a military hospital (Mbalam). Qualified staff consists of a doctor, a nurse and a qualified laboratory technician. Yet the health problems most often repeated: malaria (59%), respiratory infections (33%, 71% in children), gastro-enteritis, diarrhea and intestinal worms (38%, 48% children, pelvic inflammation and STDs.

The treatment center for tuberculosis is the nearest Lomi and cases of HIV / AIDS are transferred to Abong Mbang. Anything that has left loitering in the hall of the spectrum known misadventures some villages whose populations are still, decimated by diseases contracted due to the mixing of peoples work on the passage of the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline. The public has also complained that the reference to the promotion of employment, we do not know what to ministerial department head to collect any information on either training or setting up a business subcontractor, let alone access Employment boasted.

Cheers - BS