Government rules out soda ash mining at Lake Natron

Arusha. The government has ruled out any possibility of large-scale soda ash extraction at Lake Natron, stressing that the site is a protected Ramsar wetland and the only major breeding ground for flamingos in Africa.

The clarification follows reports that Ngaresero Valley Company Limited had expressed interest in establishing a soda ash processing plant at the lake. Company director Khalid Abdalah Rashid said feasibility studies had been conducted, projecting an annual output of 660,000 metric tonnes once approvals were secured.

News of the plan sparked alarm among communities in Ngorongoro and Longido districts, who fear it would devastate the fragile ecosystem, displace residents and threaten livelihoods dependent on tourism and livestock.

In an emergency meeting, leaders from villages surrounding the lake—including Engaresero, Pinyinyi, Gelai Lumbwa, Ichangiti Sapukin, Alaililai, Wosiwosi, Magadini, Loondolwa Esirwa and Gelai Merugoi—unanimously opposed the project.

Joshua Muriatoi Mollel, chairperson of the council of village leaders, said communities had successfully resisted similar attempts in the past.

“This is not the first effort to mine soda ash here. Tata Chemicals tried in 2008, and even the government in 2022, but we stood firm and the projects failed. We once again call on the government to protect this unique lake, the only flamingo breeding site in East Africa and vital globally for the species’ survival,” he said.

Engaresero village chairman James Sapuro Lywangiri added that Lake Natron is critical for water supply, irrigation and tourism revenues.

“Over 80 percent of the world’s flamingos are found here, attracting tourists, researchers and students. The revenues support schools, health centres and water infrastructure for our communities,” he said.

Daniel Sironga, who leads the Engaresero Emairete Community Development Initiative, warned that more than 180 jobs—mostly for tour guides—were at risk if the lake’s ecosystem was disturbed.

From Wosiwosi village, elder Meihaa Laiseri raised land rights concerns, saying the investor’s reported request for 45,000 hectares would displace residents.

“We don’t have idle land of that scale. Such a project would devastate our lives and rob the nation of its natural heritage,” he said.

Conservationists have also cautioned against the plan. Emmanuel Mgimwa, ornithologist with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Executive Director of Nature Tanzania, said global flamingo populations had already plummeted from about five million to less than two million in just five years.

“Soda ash mining would accelerate the decline by destroying critical breeding habitats and disrupting inflowing rivers such as Kenya’s Ewaso Ng’iro, which are essential to the lake’s ecological balance,” he said.

He noted that Lake Natron is recognised under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance, supporting more than 100,000 waterbirds, rare fish species and algae that sustain flamingos.

Responding to the controversy, Deputy Minister for Minerals Stephen Kiruswa insisted that no licence had been or would ever be issued for mining inside Lake Natron.

“Only traditional surface collection of naturally occurring soda ash along the lake’s edges is permitted. No large-scale extraction will be authorised,” he said.