Development of the mining sector in Guinea and its contribution to global climate change

Abstract

The sizable increase in ore mining and the unavoidability of its continuation suggests that environmental pressures, as well as the resulting impacts, have become an issue of global relevance. Minerals are valuable, finite and non-renewable natural resources. They provide raw materials for many industries and play a central role in technology and progress. Due to its particularly suitable gee-climatic conditions, Guinea conceals enormous mining resources. Whatever assessing system, experts highlight the country's bauxite potential with superlatives. This is the reason why the country is referred to as a geological scandal. The utilization of natural resources such as ore deposits and their processing into metal or energy production are strongly related to the generation of huge amounts of effluents such as greenhouse gases GHG, which cause severe environmental damages. The mining sector is highly energy-intensive and therefore, it is one of the major emitters of GHG. As a key driver economic growth and development, Guinea's mining sector faces significant risks from the effects of climate change. Moreover its own green increasing temperature and precipitation shifts as well as more frequent and severe extreme weather events will have farreaching implications worldwide. In particular the mining sector is highly energy-intensive and therefore, one of the major emitters of greenhouse gases. This paper emphasizes on the development of the guinean mining sector and its subsequent contribution to generation of climate change factors.

Author(s): S Traore

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