AMMAN —
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh said on Sunday that mining for
copper in the Dana Reserve might proceed soon, provided all effects on the
environment are taken into consideration in the process and studies are done to
attest to the economic feasibility of extracting it, according to a local news
outlet.
اضافة اعلان
Head of the
Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) Khaled Irani told
Jordan News that “initially, the position of the RSCN was that it was fully opposed to mining
projects in Dana. After some experts have claimed that the value of copper in
Dana was worth billions of dollars, as of today, our position is that we are
against amending a specific area of the reserve to be designated for mining,
but if extensive feasibility studies conclusively prove that there is in fact
copper in the worth of billions present in the reserve, then we can talk.”
“Potential copper extraction can
potentially lead to environmental issues to the plant species in Dana, not to
mention the numerous unique archaeological sites in the reserve. Mining is a
destructive industry, their impact on Dana’s tourism could be detrimental, due
to noise pollution and other factors. We are trying to reach a compromise with
the Ministry of Energy, which aims to ensure that the studies conducted in the
reserve would occur in its least sensitive areas,” Irani remarked.
According to
Desert Bloom for Training and Sustainable Development, a local non-profit
foundation,
Dana happens to be the largest nature reserve in Jordan, covering
approximately 320sq.km. The reserve is home to numerous animals that belong to
endangered species, like the Nubian Ibex, the Blandford Fox, and the Syrian
Serin (bird in the finch family); 833 different plant species are also found in
Dana, which make up a third of the country’s plant species and make the reserve
one of the most biodiverse areas in the Kingdom.
Currently, the
UNESCO deliberates granting Dana the “World Heritage Site status”; the reserve
has been on the tentative list of World Heritage Site since 2007.
Head of the
Ministry of Energy’s Mineral Resources Division Laith Abu Affar told
Jordan
News that final approval for copper extraction to proceed depends “on the
results of upcoming feasibility studies conducted by certain companies. These
studies evaluate the presence of copper in the area, and discuss the best
methods for extraction, how much copper can possibly be extracted, while
mentioning notable environmental issues to determine if such a project is
feasible”.
Abu Affar added
that “two companies have submitted bids to engage in the copper extraction
project, one local and the other foreign. Their bid is being fully assessed by
the ministry. The cost of the project is still unclear, it depends on the
studies which will be conducted by the companies involved in the project”.
While the
companies that will conduct feasibility studies will assess the concentration
of copper found in certain rocks, the ministry will examine all potential
“environmental effects that might result from the extraction, and will
collaborate with the entities conducting the studies to search for the most
environmentally friendly methods”, added Abu Affar.
Chairman of the
local NGO Edama Dureid Mahasneh told
Jordan News that, according to his
knowledge, “only copper is being targeted in the Dana Reserve. There are no
official talks about other materials, like gold. While I am not aware of the
cost of the project, it is important to note that no studies have so far
officially proved that there are abundant copper deposits in the reserve,” he
said.
If the project
gets approved and turns out to be successful, there are a number of
environmental costs that cannot be ignored, stressed Mahasneh.
“Copper is a
mineral found in rocks, usually through colored lines that indicate where the
copper is. The process of extracting copper is not merely a process of simple
digging and drilling; it involves a complete destruction of the area using
specialized machinery and excavators, which would most likely affect the shape
and structure of nearby mountains,” Mahasneh said.
That is a
disturbing concern, said Mahasneh; it “would kill all greenery in the area, and
wildlife, and will increase carbon emissions. Most likely, this will lead to
wildlife being displaced because such excavation will affect its access to food
and sleeping shelters”.
“I do not buy the
argument that Jordan needs to proceed with the copper extraction projects in
Dana because it is supposedly economically beneficial. This is a precious area
that is globally recognized. We cannot just impulsively wreck the area,”
Mahasneh argued.
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