Below is an editorial published by Nairobi Star:

Three quarters of the world’s population of the globally threatened Lesser Flamingo live and breed in East Africa, hence the international uproar over the planned soda ash mining plant on Lake Natron in Tanzania, the largest breeding colony of all. Lake Natron, the most caustic body of water in the world, lies in the north east of Tanzania and was designated as a Ramsar Site in 2001. This project has been violently opposed since it was first mooted in 2006 and I understand that it was shelved in 2008 mainly due to pressure from the Lake Natron Consultative Group, representing twenty-three different African environmental institutions.

A veil of secrecy shrouds the issue, but the project appears to have been revived recently and the new ten billion shilling plant is said to open shortly, doubling its current production of soda ash each year and making it Africa’s foremost producer of livestock and industrial grade salt. Funding has been provided by a consortium of banks, both local and international, under the aegis of the IFC (International Finance Corporation). Formerly known as Magadi Soda Company, Tata Chemicals Magadi has been part of the Indian conglomerate, Tata Chemicals since 2005 and is in partnership with the Tanzanian Government. The Tanzanian Director of Environment refutes absolutely the revival of the project saying, “No soda ash mining at Lake Natron without addressing our environmental concerns”. So why is it reported as being opened?

Original objections to the proposed plant were primarily based on three assumptions; negative impact on local communities, degradation of the fragile environment and adverse impacts on tourism and national economies. Fresh water in the vicinity of Lake Natron is scarce; there is already insufficient water for domestic, livestock and wildlife needs in the area. Supposedly the Tata plant will extract 100,000 litres of fresh water hourly and thus deplete the natural resource from the springs, rivers and wetlands.

Pastoralism is the main source of livelihood for the Maasai community and there is estimated to be 40,000 head of livestock dependent on the limited fresh water. Another factor is the scope of the infrastructure accompanying such an investment which includes a power plant, tarmac roads, accommodation for over a thousand workers plus over a hundred permanent staff and their families, with the attendant facilities required for sewerage, garbage etc.

A coalition of fifteen Maasai group ranches – South Rift Association of Landowners, (SORALO) – with financial support from the European Union and the Kenya Government had planned a connection between Amboseli and the Maasai Mara opening up the Southern Tourism Circuit.

This would not be viable without the concentration of Lesser Flamingo which entices tourists to the Rift Valley Lakes. The extinction of the Lesser Flamingo species would do unprecedented damage to the E.A tourism industry. These birds favour nesting on salt flats that provide the ideal environment - in isolated conditions with minimal human interference - and are so sensitive to disturbance that they will readily abandon their nests. They are listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened species.

It is believed that the fragile ecosystem of Lake Natron and its environs would not survive the onslaught of such a large scale project and serious doubts have been raised about the integrity of the EIA process. This was submitted to the National Environment Management Council by Norconsult (Tz). We are familiar with the Kenyan EIA process and the accompanying incompetence and corruption. Tanzania would also be denying its obligations to the various international agreements to which it is a signatory, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Ramsar Convention.

Presumably IFC funding does not come without strings attached? Whereas commercial banks can and do lend money with no moral reservations or strictures, I assume that the private arm of the World Bank scrutinises all strategic plans in considering the negative social, environmental and economic aspects of such a scheme, as well as listening to local communities and non- governmental organisations working in the area. It would be nothing short of a crime if the IFC were to be associated with the death of an ecosystem that supports Maasai communities, a variety of wildlife and a unique bird species.

By Sarah Edwards