Tanzania: Soda plant will not harm Flamingos

[DAR si LAMU]

Sisi tunakimbilia kujenga mradi ambao utakufa in 10 years.

..una maana viwanda vitaacha kutumia magadi soda in 10 years to come?

Tuwauliwe wao NDC what happened to Kiwira? mbona makaa ya mawe bado yapo na hatuyatumii?

..what happened? mkapa?

What happened to SPM Mgololo? Viberiti Moshi na upupu wa mashirika na viwanda ambavyo vilikuwa chini ya NDC?

..what happened to spm? mi mbona naona malori mengi njiani yana majina ya spm? au wanaendesha biashara ya usafirishaji?

Sasa kama watashindwa kutupa tathmini ya faida zilizopotea, kuna faida gani kuvuna magadi kwa miaka 10, kisha tukabakia na magofu na kurudi kule kule kuagiza kutoka nje au kutumia substitue products?

..hii nakubaliana nayo.

 

[Mtanganyika]

Mtanganyika,

Watanzania tumesahau sana jinsi Jute ilivyohatarisha mapato ya Taifa kutokana na mauzo ya katani.

Wenzetu kila siku wako kwenye medani za kutafuta environmental friendly substitute product. Ndio maana wajenga magari wanajenga injini kutumia aluminium na si steel. Kuna nano technology na uvumbuzi mwingine mwingi hata GMO ambayo sikubaliani nayo.

Sisi tunakimbilia kujenga mradi ambao utakufa in 10 years.

Tuwauliwe wao NDC what happened to Kiwira? mbona makaa ya mawe bado yapo na hatuyatumii?

What happened to SPM Mgololo? Viberiti Moshi na upupu wa mashirika na viwanda ambavyo vilikuwa chini ya NDC?

Sasa kama watashindwa kutupa tathmini ya faida zilizopotea, kuna faida gani kuvuna magadi kwa miaka 10, kisha tukabakia na magofu na kurudi kule kule kuagiza kutoka nje au kutumia substitue products?

Rev you said all brother.
Tunaangalia karibu, na hatupotezi hata dakika kuangalia effects katika long time manner.
Kwanza magadi yenyewe in 10 years yanaweza kuwa hayatumiki tena. Tuacheni kuwaza leo and start think years ahead.

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

Ndugu yangu Dar Si Lamu,

Kiwanda kitakufa baada ya miaka 10 kwa kwa sababu mbali mbali. Kwanza inawezekana kugundulika kwa substitute product ambayo ni bora zaidi ya magadi na ni bei rahisi, pili TATA kuamua kuacha shughuli hizo na kuitaka NDC wawe majority shareholders na NDC wawe na jukumu kubwa kwenye gharama, tatu ni kupungua kwa magadi kutokana na ule uchimbaji wa ulafi kisa tuuze na nje, hivyo mgodi kunyauka baada ya miaka 10, nne maji ya ziwa kukauka kutokana na athari za kuharibu mazingira kulikosababisha miti na uoto asili ukatae chipua.

Hayo ya Kiwira si kuhusu mkapa, bali ni wao NDC ndio walikuwa Baba na Mama wa Kiwira na wakashindwa kuliendesha kwa ufanisi. Waliposhindwa, wakatupa mfupa kwa "Beni Mjanja"

Huko Mgololo si tulishindwa kuendesha kiwanda tukatafuta wabia na wawekezaji au tulishaamka na kuanza kukiendesha kwa ufanisi? umesahau quality ya karatasi likuwa mbaya na huko Mufindi kukaanza kuwa kama jangwa na tukarudia yale yale ya kuagiza karatasi?

My point is this, is it worth it to enter such a scheme badala ya kuendelea kuagiza?

Hizo pesa Maghembe anazojitapa nazo je zitamsaidia nani? Ikiwa TATA watapewa msamaha wa kodi na ushuru kwa Miaka 10, wale wamasai au wabarabaig walioko kandoni mwa ziwa wataendelea kuwa masikini kwa miaka mingine 10, maji na mazingira kuangamia kwa hiyo miaka 10, kuna faida gani eti kuokoa 35% ya gharama za kununulia magadi kutoka Kenya? ambapo tutarudi kule kule in 10 years?

 

[DAR si LAMU]

Ndugu yangu Dar Si Lamu,

Kiwanda kitakufa baada ya miaka 10 kwa kwa sababu mbali mbali. Kwanza inawezekana kugundulika kwa substitute product ambayo ni bora zaidi ya magadi na ni bei rahisi, pili TATA kuamua kuacha shughuli hizo na kuitaka NDC wawe majority shareholders na NDC wawe na jukumu kubwa kwenye gharama, tatu ni kupungua kwa magadi kutokana na ule uchimbaji wa ulafi kisa tuuze na nje, hivyo mgodi kunyauka baada ya miaka 10, nne maji ya ziwa kukauka kutokana na athari za kuharibu mazingira kulikosababisha miti na uoto asili ukatae chipua.

..machimbo ya magadi kenya yamedumu kwa muda gani sasa? nadhani kabla hujazaliwa yalikuwapo.

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

..machimbo ya magadi kenya yamedumu kwa muda gani sasa? nadhani kabla hujazaliwa yalikuwapo.

Kwani Kiwira makaa yamekaa yakijipika kwa muda gani?

It is not about how long the oil has been sitting on the ground, but how competent are we to produce the oil!

Wenzetu Kenya wameendelea kwa viwanda, sisi tunachechemea. Kitakachoua mradi huu si lazima kiwe kukauka kwa Magadi, bali ni sababu zile zile zilizoua viwanda vyetu na sisi kukimbilia kutafuta wabia kwa kuwa hatutaki kujituma na kuchapa kazi au kuwa wabunifu.

Huu mradi wa magadi ni njia fupi ya kupata temporary financing ya Gurudumu la maendeleo ambalo Ndulu atalitoa kwenye ripoti yake.

Bottom line the project is not worth it, iwe kwa mambo ya Mazingira, mapato au ufanisi na utendaji.

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

..machimbo ya magadi kenya yamedumu kwa muda gani sasa? nadhani kabla hujazaliwa yalikuwapo.

Yaani, Mkuu, pamoja na jitihada zote za Mchungaji kukuelimisha bado unaleta ubishi? Majibu yako kwenye post za awali ambapo ungeyapata kamaa ungejisumbua kuzisoma. Kuhusu kiwanda cha magadi Kenya, Lazydog alipost yafuatayo:

Past experiences with Tata Chemicals Ltd – It is impossible not to think about Tata Chemicals Ltd projects elsewhere, especially the long term mining operations in Magadi, Kenya. A few years ago, the operations in Magadi were expanded by constructing a second plant. This construction was shrouded in secrecy, with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process ignoring most of the key stakeholders working in the area. Important issues such as water requirements for the plant seem not to have been thought through, and currently, part of the new factory has been shut down ostensibly due to an acute shortage of water. We therefore have a strong basis for urging extreme caution based on these previous experiences.

Ukiisoma post yake vizuri utagundua pia kuwa kuna uhaba mkubwa wa maji safi kwenye eneo la ziwa Natron ambapo hiki kiwanda kitahitaji zaidi ya lita 100000 kwa saa! Unategemea hawa kweli wana nia ya kuwa pale kwa miaka nenda rudi? Thubutu. Tax holiday ikiisha nao wanakitoa na ndipo hapo mtakapoanza kuimba nyimbo za ufisadi!

 

[DAR si LAMU]

Yaani, Mkuu, pamoja na jitihada zote za Mchungaji kukuelimisha bado unaleta ubishi? Majibu yako kwenye post za awali ambapo ungeyapata kamaa ungejisumbua kuzisoma. Kuhusu kiwanda cha magadi Kenya, Lazydog alipost yafuatayo:



Ukiisoma post yake vizuri utagundua pia kuwa kuna uhaba mkubwa wa maji safi kwenye eneo la ziwa Natron ambapo hiki kiwanda kitahitaji zaidi ya lita 100000 kwa saa! Unategemea hawa kweli wana nia ya kuwa pale kwa miaka nenda rudi? Thubutu. Tax holiday ikiisha nao wanakitoa na ndipo hapo mtakapoanza kuimba nyimbo za ufisadi!

..kuna logic kwenye majibu yako.

..bado hujajibu swali langu. magadi soda kenya ipo kwa miaka mingapi sasa? achana na mambo ya new plant.

 

[DAR si LAMU]

Kwani Kiwira makaa yamekaa yakijipika kwa muda gani?

It is not about how long the oil has been sitting on the ground, but how competent are we to produce the oil!

Wenzetu Kenya wameendelea kwa viwanda, sisi tunachechemea. Kitakachoua mradi huu si lazima kiwe kukauka kwa Magadi, bali ni sababu zile zile zilizoua viwanda vyetu na sisi kukimbilia kutafuta wabia kwa kuwa hatutaki kujituma na kuchapa kazi au kuwa wabunifu.

Huu mradi wa magadi ni njia fupi ya kupata temporary financing ya Gurudumu la maendeleo ambalo Ndulu atalitoa kwenye ripoti yake.

Bottom line the project is not worth it, iwe kwa mambo ya Mazingira, mapato au ufanisi na utendaji.

..kwa hili jibu,umejibu hoja yangu ya msingi niliyokuwa nayo. tatizo si uharibifu wa mazingira as such,but seriousness,period!

 

[LazyDog]

Seriousness?

..bado hujajibu swali langu. magadi soda kenya ipo kwa miaka mingapi sasa? achana na mambo ya new plant.

Hata mimi nimejiuliza hili swali, but I do hesitate to make any conclusions, maana huu upungufu wa maji pengine umeanza miaka ya karibuni; theluji ya mlima Kilimanjaro ni ushahidi.
Watakaofanya assessment ijayo naamini watalitizama hilo.

Ukitizama kweye ramani, ziwa Magadi na ziwa Natron yako jirani.

Lake Magadi is the southermost lake in the Kenyan Rift Valley, lying in a catchment of faulted volcanic rocks, north east of Lake Natron.

Source ya maji lake Natron ni Ewaso Nyiro river system in Kenya and Pinyiny, Moinik and Ngare Sero rivers in Tanzania.
What picture do you get here?
Some say at times, Lake Magadi and Lake Natron were united as a single larger lake.

Tata Chemicals a major shareholder in Magadi Company has built a second processing plant on Lake Magadi but lack fresh water to run the plant effectively and efficiently.

Just imagine wao wenyewe (TATA) maji hayawatoshi.... kama ambavyo Fundi Mchundo ameeleza hapo juu, mi naona hawa jamaa hawana mpango wa kuona kwamba maji yanaendelea kuwepo kwa maisha ya hawa flamingo. Na ikiwa kuna loop-holes kwenye sheria zetu za mazingira, wakati huo huo Pinda anakiri swala la mikataba "Watanzania hawana ujuzi nalo", Lake Natron itakuwa historia in 10 years kama Rev. Kishoka anavyotabiri.

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

..kuna logic kwenye majibu yako.

..bado hujajibu swali langu. magadi soda kenya ipo kwa miaka mingapi sasa? achana na mambo ya new plant.

Jawabu hili hapa!

NGO Challenges Magadi
Soda's UK Monopoly
By JOHN MBARIA
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
KENYA'S MAASAI community has taken on the British-owned Magadi Soda Company by registering a company that will set up a parallel operation to process soda ash in a campaign aimed at forcing the government to end the 80-year-old monopoly enjoyed by the giant multinational.

At the centre of the dispute between the Maasai and the British multinational, which was established in Kenya in 1924, are claims that the Magadi Soda Company is in the country illegally, that its lease is unsustainable and that the local people do not benefit from its operations.

unweza kusoma taarifa nzima hapa: http://www.nationaudio.com/News/EastAfrican/09022004/Regional/Regional090220042.html

Amandla!

 

[LazyDog]

That was 2004

Thank you Fundi Mchundo. I bet this is the information TATA would want us to see.
Nilitamani sana kupata data za huko Kenya ila sikuwa na muda wa kutosha ku-research.


Thanks once again

 

[Savimbi]

Asante sana Fundi Mchundo!
Nadhani kielelezo hicho ni dalili ya kumkoma nyani

http://www.nationaudio.com/News/EastAfrican/09022004/Regional/Regional090220042.html

Kumbe mradi wa Magadi Soda Company ulianzishwa wakati wa ukoloni; nadhani kama ingekuwa kipindi hiki hakuna Mkenya ambaye angeukubali!

Asomaye na afahamu!

 

[LazyDog]

Sie bwana tujenge asiye taka naweza kuhama nchi its that simple

Uchumi wetu wa watu milioni 40 unaweza ukawa wa maana zaidi kuliko tutegemea huo utalii

Only if you knew how much and how many of the locals do benefit from tourism.

Daily News; Monday,May 19, 2008

Tourism has now become the leading foreign exchange earner in Tanzania, as it accounts for 17.2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), President Jakaya Kikwete has said.
Opening the 33rd African Travel Association (ATA) congress here today, president Kikwete said that the number of international tourist arrivals in the country had also increased from 525,122 in 2001, to 719,031 last year, creating 250,000 jobs.



Pengine unajiuliza “What does this mean?”
Fedha zinakwenda wapi? Kiasi gani kinarudi kuboresha TOURISM?
Mjadala unaendelea hapa.


.

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

Na tunafanya kila tuliwezalo kumchinja bata anayetaga mayai ya dhahabu!

 

[BAK]

Indian firm halts plan for soda ash project

By Orton Kiishweko
THE CITIZEN

An Indian company that was keen to invest $500 million (about Sh600 billion) in a soda ash project along Lake Natron in Manyara district has reportedly pulled out.

The firm, Tata Chemicals, announced it was putting on hold its plans for a soda ash extraction and processing plant at Lake Natron due to intense pressure by environmental lobbyists.

Mr Homi Khusrokhan, the firm's managing director, said his company has suspended the investment and will wait results of the final Ramsar Management Plan currently under preparation for Lake Natron.

We still wait for a report that is meant to put the investors and environmentalists concerns into consideration, he said.

However, a report published in the Hindustan Times, one of India's leading newspapers, quoted Mr Khusrokhan as saying the project was also facing a tricky situation that has something to do with a tedious environmental convention.

Environmentalists all over the world have opposed the project, saying Lake Natron, which is an important breeding ground for flamingos, would be destroyed if the company set up a factory. Their campaign forced the shelving of the first environmental impact assessment report that had cleared the Indian firm to invest.

Yesterday, Tanzanian authorities were, however, unaware of the planned suspension with Environment Minister Dr Batilda Burian and Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) chief executive Mr Emmanuel ole Naiko saying they were yet to receive official information from the company.

Mr Ole Naiko said the suspension of the project may not be conclusive as an assessment report that will consider the interests of investors and conservationists was still being awaited.

The merits and demerits of the project are still being debated and a common understanding has not yet been reached as far as I know, Mr ole Naiko said.

Dr Burian told The Citizen that the Government has not approved the project, and was still assessing it to determine whether to endorse it or not.

As the Government, we are obliged to bring about sustainable social, economic and environmental development. This means that we can allow the project only after the merits and demerits of the whole scheme, she said.

Mr Khusrokhan, a key spokesperson for the project, admitted that it was clear now that the plant could not be sited at the lakeside because of the risks to the environment. Therefore, the original Environment and Social Impact Assessment should be treated as withdrawn, he said.

But Mr Gideon Nasari, managing director of the state-run National Development Corporation (NDC), has in the past said that they plan to shift the plant 35km (22 miles) from the lakeshore to help preserve flamingos, which are a major tourist attraction.
However, a UK-based environment group, Birdlife International and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, opposed this saying that shifting the project 35km from the lake would not mitigate the negative impact the project is likely to pose to lesser flamingos and the local community.
Twenty-four conservationists from East African countries, under the banner of Lake Natron Consultative Group recently , called on the Tanzanian government to halt the project, saying its a recipe for destruction of the lake and it inhabitants.

Conservationists also argued that the economic benefits of the plant are insignificant, compared with its long-term negative effects on the environment and the country's struggling tourism sector.

Their reports have indicated that Lake Natron is by far the most significant of only five sites in the world where lesser flamingos breed regularly and successfully. The breeding at Lake Natron accounts for 75% of all the world's lesser flamingos.
Their reports also say, that based on flamingo tourism alone, Lake Natron has a value of close to $12 million a year.

 

[Mdau]

always the truth shall prevail...nackia shem zake prezidaa wanataka wajenge hotel ngorongoro crater, after startn building the same in serengeti national park, is it?

 

[Savimbi]

NEMC awaits Soda Ash EIA report

Masembe Tambwe
Daily News: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 @00.02

Developers of the proposed Lake Natron Soda Ash facility are reviewing an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to address public concerns of the project, the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) has said.

Speaking yesterday at a press briefing, the NEMC Director of Information and Communication, Ms Anna Maembe, said that owing to concerns raised by the public in the country and abroad, the investors had to review the EIA to avert possible environment degradationn.

“We are a poor nation … we stand to gain a lot from the project but we need to be very careful when it comes to issues of environment. We at NEMC are waiting for the report and we’ll approve it if it addresses all concerns raised,” she said.

During a public hearing of the project held in Dar es Salaam last January this year - and attended by about 100 people, including representatives from communities around the lake and the project developer (M/S Lake Natron Resources Ltd) - there was strong opposition against the project.

The imminent extinction of flamingoes, already a rare species in the World, topped the list of concerns. Lake Natron is so far the largest home and breeding ground for the rare birds, in themselves a leading attraction for tourists around the World. Meanwhile, Tanzanians are gearing up to join the rest of the world in marking the annual World Environment Day on June 5, this year.

Ms Maembe said that the climax at national level would be held in Shinyanga region with the theme “Kick the habit – Towards a low Carbon Economy.” She called on Tanzanians to brace themselves for the effects of climate change now already evident within the country, saying these were caused mainly by mass felling of forests for firewood and uncontrolled disposal of wastes.

However, she expressed hope things were changing for the better since the Environment Law took effect in July 2005 – and that NEMC was now receiving a lot of phone calls and letters from people concerned with their future living environment.

 

[LazyDog]

.
.
.
Conservationists also argued that the economic benefits of the plant are insignificant, compared with its long-term negative effects on the environment and the country's struggling tourism sector.

Their reports have indicated that Lake Natron is by far the most significant of only five sites in the world where lesser flamingos breed regularly and successfully. The breeding at Lake Natron accounts for 75% of all the world's lesser flamingos.
Their reports also say, that based on flamingo tourism alone, Lake Natron has a value of close to $12 million a year.

This part is worth repeating


.

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

Nasari "aunguruma" tena!

NDC yatupilia mbali madai ya wanamazingira‏
2008-05-29 11:13:56
Na Ellen Manyangu na Lucy Lyatuu


Shirika la Taifa la Maendeleo (NDC), limetupilia mbali madai dhidi ya
wanaharakati wa mazingira kuhusu uanzishwaji wa mradi wa magadi katika
ziwa Natron kwamba hayana msingi wowote.

Aidha, limesema madai hayo yameongezwa chumvi na kwamba hayana ushahidi
wowote wa kisayansi wa kuyapa nguvu.

Hayo yalisemwa na Mkurugenzi Mwendeshaji wa mradi huo, Bw. Gideon Nasari,
wakati akizungumza na waandishi wa habari jijini Dar es Salaam, jana.

Hata hivyo, alitoa wito kwa serikali kuwapatia nafasi nyingine ya kuandaa
taarifa ambayo itakuwa na sababu za kutosha kuishawishi na kutoa nafasi ya
mradi wa magadi wa ziwa Natron kuanzishwa mara moja ili kuliongezea taifa
mapato.

Bw. Nasari, alisema NDC inaamini kuwa hakuna mwanaharakati wa mazingira
hata mmoja aliyefanya uchunguzi wa kina kuhusu athari za mradi huo na
kwamba imekuwa ni malumbano tu.

Alisema si kweli kwamba mradi huo utaharibu mazalia ya ndege aina ya
flamingo kwani wana mpango wa kuhamisha kiwanda cha mradi huo kwa kilomita
32 kutoka ziwa lilipo.

Aliongeza kuwa mazalia ya ndege hao yapo upande wa kaskazini na kusini,
ambapo hawatojua kinachofanyika upande mwingine.

``Hiyo ni dhahiri kuwa hakutokuwa na usumbufu wowote kwa flamingo hao
muhimu na wazuri,si hivyo tu kuwepo kwa shughuli za wanadamu na nyinginezo
katika sehemu ya kiwanda kutasaidia kuwafukuza wanyama wanyemeleaji,``
alisema.

Bw. Nasari alisema kuwa uanzishwaji wa mradi huo hapa nchini una uwezo wa
kuliingizia taifa dola milioni 300 kwa mwaka na kwamba wanahitaji dola
milioni 450 kwa ajili ya kutekeleza mradi huo.

Alisema uanzishwaji wa mradi huo utasaidia kuwapatia ajira za kudumu 500
na nyingine ambazo sio za moja kwa moja zipatazo 2,000.

Alisema hawawezi kujitoa kwenye mradi kwani wana nia njema na nchi huku
wakitaka wananchi kunufaika na rasilimali zilizopo.

Mradi wa uchimbaji magadi katika Ziwa Natron unatarajiwa kutekelezwa na
NDC wakishirikiana na TATA Chemicals Limited kutoka India.

Can he give us the estimates of how many tones will be yielded annually? what are Tanzania annual needs? will there be a possibility to export?

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

Nasari "aunguruma" tena!



Can he give us the estimates of how many tones will be yielded annually? what are Tanzania annual needs? will there be a possibility to export?

Reverend! Hizi zote ni namba tu na kama kawaida yetu tuko tayari kujiuza kwa ajili ya rupia! kwa mtazamo wangu, pesa si issue. At stake hapa ni possible effect kwa mazingira. Huyu msemaji wa NDC anakuwa kama Bush alivyo in denial kuhusu global warming. Hakuna mtu ambaye anaweza kusema conclusively kuwa ni matendo ya binadamu yanayoisababisha lakini kila indicators zinaelekea huko. Swali ni je tungoje , kama wanashauri wengine, hadi hapa tutakapojua kwa uhakika zaidi ndiyo tuchukue hatua za tahadhari au tuanze sasa ambapo bado kuna matumaini ya kumitigate kama kweli matendo ya binadamu ndiyo cause. Vile vile, ujenzi wa kiwanda, ongezeko la binadamu na takataka zao ( binadamu wana kawaida ya kwenda haja n.k), ujenzi wa powerstation na matumizi ya maji safi haba kunaashiria kuwa inawezekana hao flamingo wakatoweka au kupungua drastically. Kinachojulikana ni kuwa wakitoweka hatuna jinsi ya kuwarudisha. Sasa, is it worth the risk kwa ajili ya another risky project ambayo nayo inauwezekano mkubwa wa kuishia kama viwanda vyetu vya kioo mbagala, karatasi, tabora spinning mill, vya korosho, cha nguo musoma, ufi, tanga steel mill, tancut na vingine vingi ambavyo tuliambiwa kuwa vitatutoa kutoka katika huu umasikini. Hivi leo tukigundua mafuta Ngorongoro tutakuwa tayari kuangamize wale wanyama ili tuyachimbe? Wako watakosema haswa lakini ukweli ni kuwa hatutawea kureplicate Ngorongoro sehemu nyingine yeyote. Some things are priceless. Mojawapo ni hili linagusa urithi wa vizazi vijavyo!