NNRA INSPECTORS FROM SPECIAL OPERATION OFFICE JOS CARRIED OUT ASSESSMENT OF MINING ACTIVITIES OF ALCOMINE LIMITED IN NIGERIA

NNRA INSPECTORS FROM SPECIAL OPERATION OFFICE JOS CARRIED OUT ASSESSMENT OF MINING ACTIVITIES OF ALCOMINE LIMITED IN NIGERIA

The NNRA Office in Jos, Plateau State, which officially commenced operations in March 2023 and was specifically established to handle the regulation of mining activities in the country conducted the inspection of Malcomine Limited.

The office conducts hundreds of inspections yearly and has successfully brought hundreds of mining companies under regulatory control. As a result of its strict compliance requirements these companies were made to put in place several Safety Measures such as ventilation systems, dust control, and, in some cases, the use of nuclear technology (e.g., density gauges) under strictly controlled, regulated, and monitored conditions.

In some extreme cases the inspectors recorded dangerously high radiation dose rates with values as high as 150 micro Sievert and up to 220 micro sievert in some cases there by requiring the collaboration of the NNRA, Ecological Fund Office, Federal Ministry of Health and the Plateau State Government in tackling these dangerous issues of high radiation dose in the vicinity of the public.

All mining activities involve exposure to naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs), primarily uranium, thorium, and their decay products, such as Radon-222, which release alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. Miners face significant risks from inhaling dust and radon gas, as well as from external exposure to ore bodies, especially in uranium, coal, and mineral sand mining.

The main radiological hazard, especially in underground mines, is the inhalation of radon gas and its short-lived decay products (Po-214, Po-218, Bi-214, and Pb-214), which deposit in the respiratory tract. Sources of Exposure include NORM like Uranium, thorium, and Potassium-40 found in ore, inhalation of Radon gas and radioactive dust, and Ingestion of Contaminated food or water.

While uranium mining is the primary concern, industries like Rare Earth mining, Phosphate mining, and Industrial mineral processing (oil/gas) can generate significant NORM.

These mining activities have a great impact on the environment, such as tailings, mine water, and waste rock, which can contaminate the surrounding environment, leading to long-term radiation exposure for nearby residents.