Northern Niger: civil society in Arlit is concerned about water quality
In the north of Niger, civil society in Arlit is concerned about the quality of the water consumed by the populations, in a region where uranium has been exploited for several decades. Almoustapha Alhacen, president of the NGO Aghir In'Man, underlines: “
We have written to the various ministries, to ask them to carry out analyzes to reassure the population of Arlit and Agadez.
»
Listen - 00:57
[Illustrative image] General view of the residual landfill of the Cominak mine near Arlit on March 8, 2023. AFP - OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT
By: RFI Follow
Advertisement
Read more
Civil society in Arlit, in northern
Niger
, is concerned about the quality of the water consumed by the populations. An environmental protection NGO recently sent a letter to several ministries to alert the new authorities and request radiological analyzes in this mining region where uranium has been exploited for several decades.
Also read: Niger: worrying revelations about radioactive pollution from Cominak
The NGO particularly points the finger at the storage of the slag heap, a pile of mining waste. And believes that the risks of groundwater contamination are even greater since the closure of the Cominak mine. For Almoustapha Alhacen, president of the NGO Aghir In'Man, contacted by
Magali Lagrange
, the population deserves to be reassured: “
What has caused our concern? That is to say that there are ore processing residues which are stored in the open air. The heap contains a little acidified gel which has contaminated the water table. So, this contaminated aquifer is drained to the west, and less than eight kilometers away are the catchment fields for the water consumed by the population of Arlit. So, Cominak tells us that they are in the process of confining the water table, that they are in the process of pumping it, but in any case everything they have explained to us does not inspire confidence.
»
“We
serve water without radiological analyses, we think it’s aberrant
”
He continues: “
Second concern, there is a report from a local company which says that the water of Agadez is more contaminated than the water of Arlit, while we never have the results of Arlit water.
»
And Almoustapha Alhacen concludes: “
This is why we wrote to the various ministries, to ask them in any case to carry out analyzes to reassure the population of Arlit and Agadez in an area where uranium and that water is served without radiological analyses, we think it is aberrant.
»
In a letter to local authorities, the Niger Water Heritage Company (Spen) states that it will send a mission to the site in around ten days.
Read alsoNiger: civil society in Agadez is concerned about a new agreement between Orano and the State
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your inbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Share :
Continue reading on the same themes:
Niger
Pollution