Lega Dembi Mine
The Lega Dembi Mine is the largest gold mine in Ethiopia and is near Shakiso in Oromia. Lega Dembi has a yearly production of around 4,500 kg of gold and silver, and is owned by MIDROC. Pollution from the mine has resulted in environmental conflict that has exacerbated other political and ethnic conflict in the region.
Entrance sign, 2002 | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
Laga Dembi Mine | |
| Regional State | Oromia |
| Coordinates | 5°42′55″N 38°53′32″E |
| Production | |
| Products | Gold and silver |
| History | |
| Active | 1930s to present |
| Owner | |
| Company | MIDROC |
The mine has exposed thousands of people to cyanide, arsenic and mercury pollution greatly exceeding World Health Organization guidelines, causing severe negative health effects including many stillbirths, birth defects, and deformities. In 2022, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights and the Environment, David Richard Boyd described the mine as one of the worst sacrifice zones in the world. The mine's pollution has also threatened local communities' food security. People have been killed for organising protests against the mine, and in 2018 at least five people were killed when security forces fired at demonstrators. These protests resulted in temporary cancellation of the mining permit.
in February 2021, The Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoMPNG) announced that it would allow MIDROC to reopen the mine. A report in 2022 found that the government had "largely succeeded in suppressing any public expression of opposition to the mine."