(Mombasa) – As Base Titanium nears the completion of its mining operations in Kwale County, the Australian-based company is taking significant steps toward restoring the environmental impact of its mining activities.
With plans to cease mining by December 2024, the company is focusing on rehabilitating mined-out sites through reforestation, biodiversity restoration, and creating agricultural opportunities for local communities.
Base Titanium, which has been mining rutile, ilmenite, and zircon minerals in Kwale since 2013, has become a key player in Kenya’s mining sector, contributing around 65 percent of the country’s mineral output by value. The company is also recognized as a flagship project under Kenya’s Vision 2030 national development plan.
As the mining process comes to an end, Base Titanium has accelerated its efforts to restore the environment. This includes the rehabilitation of mined areas to ensure that they can support both flora and fauna once the mining operations are complete.
The rehabilitation process involves shaping the mined areas to resemble natural dunes, promoting drainage, and preparing the soil for the growth of vegetation. Steps such as spreading topsoil, manuring, and mulching are being taken to enhance soil fertility. The goal is to make the land suitable for future agricultural or ecological uses.
Base Titanium’s General Manager for External Affairs, Simon Wall, emphasized that land rehabilitation is a critical part of the mining lifecycle. He pointed out that the company has already been rehabilitating the land in phases during mining, ensuring that the land remains safe and stable as the mining operations progress toward closure.
“We began planning for the closure of the mine even before we started mining,” Wall said. “Our rehabilitation efforts are designed to restore the land to sustainable, usable conditions, which will benefit both the environment and local communities.”
Base Titanium’s rehabilitation activities have been a priority from the outset, with a focus on restoring biodiversity and ensuring ecological balance. Wall noted that the company has already successfully rehabilitated over 500 hectares of land at the South and Central Dunes of the mining site, with the goal of returning the area to a state that is better than it was before mining began.
The company is also working on reforestation efforts, with its indigenous tree nursery housing over 280 species of plants. To date, more than 800 trees have been planted in the mined-out areas, marking the beginning of biodiversity restoration efforts.
The company’s environmental efforts have received support from various local organizations, including the Kenya Navy. A recent tree-planting initiative was led by soldiers from the Kenya Navy at the South Dune area of the Kwale mine site. Colonel Benson Karuimbo, the Commandant of the Kenya Naval Training College, explained that the tree planting exercise was part of a broader campaign to celebrate the Kenya Navy’s 60th anniversary in 2024.
“The Environmental Soldier Programme, which is part of the national tree-growing initiative, seeks to increase the country’s tree cover to 30 percent as part of Kenya’s efforts to combat climate change,” said Col. Karuimbo.
The tree-planting initiative also ties into Kenya’s broader environmental goals, which include restoring the country’s tree cover while promoting climate action.