REPORT ON AN ASSIGNMENT AS SENIOR ECONOMIC GEOLOGIST
WITH THE FINNIDA/STAMICO PROJECT 1.11.1987 - 31.10.1989,
BY CAJ KORTMAN
1. Background
The State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) of Tanzania is a parastatal organization founded in 1972 as the state holding corporation in the mineral sector. The main objectives and activities of STAMICO are to conduct exploration and mining activities, and to acquire and hold shares and interests in enterprises engaged in prospecting, mining, refining and marketing of metals and minerals.
The average number of employees at the STAMICO offices is about 320, of which 170 are based at the Head Quarters in Dar es Salaam, and 150 at the Exploration Department in Dodoma about 460 km from Dar es Salaam.
The Exploration Department in Dodoma has sections for Economic Geology, Drilling, Quarrying and Blasting, Surveying, Cartography, Transportation, Accounts and Administration. The main task of the Department is to carry out exploration programs on deposits of potentially economic significance. The exploration projects are normally funded by Government development budget approved by the Parliament.
The Senior Economic Geologist reported to the Exploration Manager, and he had 12 counterparts, of which 6 were based in Dodoma, and 6 at the operating mines (Buckreef Gold Mine, Minjingu Phosphate Mine, Pugu Kaolin Mine, Kiwira Coal Mine and Lupa Gold Mine).
The duties of the Senior Economic Geologist were, as specified in the job description:
- To prepare and update professional development programs for
Tanzanian geologists.
- To provide guidance to the Tanzanian geologists and to monitor their progress during program implementation.
- To participate in the promotion of mineral development projects by preparing proposals, plans and budgets concerning various project stages for presentation to potential financiers and to assess reports on studies prepared by consultants.
- To look after Tanzania’s interests in the various stages of mineral project development as well as in the exploitation of mineral resources.
2. Activities
The Senior Economic Geologist performed the following main activities during the assignment period:
Prepared professional development programs for the counterparts in cooperation with the Exploration Manager in Dodoma and the Training Officer at the Head Quarters in Dar es Salaam.
Advised the management on matters related to exploration, and participated in the planning of exploration programs for the Minjingu Phosphate Mine and the Buckreef Gold Mine in cooperation with the management and counterparts at the mines.
Instructed, assisted and guided the counterparts on a day-to-day basis e.g. in the writing of reports and proposals. Gave instructions in the use of personal microcomputer.
Supplied professional reference literature (books and journals) and miscellaneous minor consumables and equipment (including photo copier).
Arranged short one-day field trips for the counterparts to quarrying operations and mineral deposits in the Dodoma area, e.g. the CDA Stone Quarry at Nyankali, the STAMICO Stone Quarry at Muhande, the Madengi Hill gold prospect, the Kikombo soapstone and magnesite deposits, and the Bahi Swamps salt deposit.
Arranged local seminars at the Exploration Department in Dodoma:
- Seminar on Ore Reserves Evaluation 31.5 -2.6.1988. The seminar was organized in cooperation with the Department of Geology, University of Dar es Salaam. The topics of the seminar covered various aspects of the ore reserves evaluation process, e.g. reserves categories, methods of reserves estimations, and mining economics. The lecturers were T.Koistinen and S.Mnali from the University of Dar es Salaam, R.Tuovinen and B.Haule from STAMICO Head Quarters and G.Mwaya and C.Kortman from STAMICO Exploration Department.
- Seminar on Remote Sensing 19.12.1988. The seminar covered geological interpretations of aerial photographs and satellite imageries. M.Punkari, short-term lecturer, Department of Geology, University of Dar es Salaam, held the lectures and demonstrations.
- Seminar on Geochemical Exploration 18 -28.9.1989. The seminar covered sampling media, sampling methods, field demonstrations, analytical methods, data handling and case histories. The lecturers were R.Salminen and P.Lestinen from the Department of Geochemistry, Geological Survey of Finland.
Arranged study tours abroad:
- Mining operations in Zimbabwe 15.9 - 4.10.1988 in cooperation with the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), participants G.Mwaya, F.Msuya and C.Kortman.
- Industrial training in underground gold mines in Zimbabwe 21.9 - 11.10.1988, participants P.Seleka (Sabi Gold Mine near Zvishavane) and M.Kange (Bar 20 Gold Mine near Gwanda).
- Gold deposit evaluation seminar at Otaniemi, Finland and visit to the Outokumpu mining area in eastern Finland 10 - 22.10.1988, participant A.Minde.
- Course on sampling and valuation of gold deposits 14 -26.5.1989 at the University of Leeds, U.K., participants L.Mwanga and J.Lyimo.
- 28th International Geological Congress in Washington, D.C., USA, 9 - 19.7.1989, participants G.Mwaya, A.Mwakalinga and C.Kortman.
3. Discussion
FINNIDA has given personnel assistance to the mineral sector in Tanzania during a period of twenty years. During the 1970’s the assistance comprised the services of only one expert, but during the mid-1980’ies the Finnish personnel assistance to STAMICO expanded to a maximum of four experts in the form of pure personnel assistance with some minor material input. As from 1987 the assistance was developed into project form with specified objectives and budgets. At the same time the post of a Senior Economic Geologist was added to the FINNIDA personnel assistance to STAMICO, which was well justified considering the importance of economic geology and exploration in STAMICO and the fact that almost half of the STAMICO staff is in the Exploration Department and a number of geologists are seconded to the subsidiary mines.
The immediate objective of the project was to make STAMICO self sufficient in the services of senior level professionals in the fields of economic geology, mining engineering, mineral dressing and mineral economics. The principal component of the project was the professional development of Tanzanian candidates for senior level positions within STAMICO’s organization.
The project activities in the form of training, instruction and guidance given to the counterparts, together with participation in seminars and study tours contributed to raising the professional level of the counterparts and improved their ability to carry out more demanding duties. It may be noted that a number of counterparts from the Exploration Department were seconded to responsible positions in subsidiary companies and joint ventures during the project period.