Concerns expressed by residents of the mining town of Selebi-Phikwe about recent tremors and vibrations in their area were quickly dispelled by Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Lephoko Moagi, Mmegi Online reported on February 20.
In response to a parliamentary question, Minister Moagi said he was aware of the tremors reported by residents of Selebi Phikwe. However, he stressed, these tremors do not represent any danger, since phenomena of this type are frequently observed in the mining sector.
He also assured residents that they should remain calm as the current tremors in Selebi Phikwe are similar to those observed in 2019-2020 in terms of strength, location, frequency and are also caused by years of underground copper mining and Nickel ore in the Southeast Mine.
“I am aware of the concern that the Selebi Phikwe earthquakes are causing. However, the likelihood of any negative impacts is controlled by groundwater pumping and constant monitoring. “This is being done by a special group of experts from the Botswana Institute of Geosciences.”Moagi explained.
Regarding the main causes of the current tremors, Moagi stated that they arose due to the holes formed in the place of the extracted rock:
“Due to the flooding of the shafts, we are seeing seismic activity (tremors) in the Selebi-Phikwe area, emanating specifically from the southeast mine. Sudden changes in water levels increased pore pressure, affecting the stability of the rocks. Therefore, it is excessive pressure that causes breaks in the rock, causing tremors.”said the minister.
At the same time, he noted that in December last year, his ministry quickly moved to mitigate the consequences of the collapse of Selebi-Phikwe. Among the preventive measures being taken, Moagi mentioned that the recovery team has resumed flooding the rest of the southeastern extension of the mine.
“This plan will allow for increased partial flooding of the underground workings while ensuring that the main Phikwe 3 mine remains a viable route to access the remaining deposits.”he added.
The minister stressed that his ministry will continue to monitor the aftershocks in Selebi Phikwe.
It should be noted that no minerals are currently extracted in the Selebi-Phikwe mines.
Source: Rossa Primavera
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.