Chalinze District, Pwani, Tanzania.
I had the opportunity to document a visit to various quarry mining sites in Lugoba ward for UNDP Tanzania. The images captured include small-scale, mid-scale, and large-scale mining sites and miners working on those sites.
Quarry mining is the primary economic activity in Lugoba ward, generating more council income than other activities.
The extracted construction minerals are used in building large apartments, roads, standard gauge railways, and residential and commercial housing.
Small-Scale Quarry Mining
Even through a casual observation, the contrasting realities between large-scale and small-scale miners become evident. Their choice of equipment, the storage practices for mined quarry materials, the extraction sites, and their environmental impact all distinguish one from the other.
Small-scale miners operate with a unified approach, boasting a union comprising over 150 members. This collective effort enables them to negotiate competitive prices for their extracted resources. Moreover, through this union, they can effectively handle large-scale orders, a task beyond the capabilities of individual miners due to their reliance on primitive extraction methods.
Medium-Scale Quarry Mining
Mid-scale miners operate at a significantly higher level due to the utilization of modern equipment and technology. This investment and integration of technology are evident in their operations, as seen in the scale of quarry production observed at the factory.
Moreover, the substantial capital investment is apparent through the presence of large capital equipment. Consequently, workers operate in a much safer environment.
Large-Scale Quarry Mining
Even through a casual observation, the contrasting realities between large-scale and small-scale miners become evident. Their choice of equipment, the storage practices for mined quarry materials, the extraction sites, and their environmental impact all distinguish one from the other.
