IN the sweeping dunes of Lompoul, Senegal, controversy surrounds the world’s largest mining dredger. Since 2014, French mining giant Eramet has been extracting zircon—used in ceramics and construction—through its local subsidiary, EGC. But the project has triggered uproar from farmers, tourist operators, and community leaders, who accuse the company of devastating fertile lands and displacing thousands of people.
According to AFP, the Grand Côte Operations site, which spans 23 kilometres, is so vast that its impact can be seen from space. The massive dredger churns through thousands of tonnes of mineral sands an hour, carving a path through the once-pristine coastal region, home to 80 percent of Senegal’s vegetable production.
Displaced communities call for justice
Over the past decade, thousands of farmers and their families have been forced to leave their land. Eramet insists its operations meet international standards, compensating displaced residents ‘five times more’ than national guidelines—between €12,190 and €15,240 per hectare. The company also claims to have built modern villages with houses and infrastructure for affected communities.
But local leaders tell a different story. Gora Gaye, mayor of Diokoul Diawrigne, said the mining has brought ‘despair and disillusion’. ‘We were promised development, but all we have is the destruction of our ecosystem and broken promises,’ Gaye told AFP. Many farmers argue the compensation doesn’t reflect the long-term losses from losing fertile land, traditionally used to produce Senegal’s fresh vegetables.
Omar Keita, a displaced farmer, said he now works in other people’s fields just to survive. ‘Before, I had my own land and house. Now I live in a single room loaned by my brother,’ Keita explained. He appealed directly to Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and even France, saying, ‘We want our land back and our village rebuilt.’
President Faye demands more transparency
Since taking office last year, President Faye has criticised past mining practices and vowed to reclaim Senegal’s sovereignty, particularly from former colonial powers like France. He recently demanded greater transparency on the social and environmental impacts of mining projects.
Faye’s government campaigned on promises to prioritise local communities in resource management. Now, as mining continues in Lompoul, the president faces mounting pressure to intervene. ‘We cannot close our eyes to what people are going through,’ said Gaye, calling for an immediate moratorium to assess the full impact of mining on the environment and local livelihoods.
Eramet defends its operations
Eramet and EGC’s managing director, Frederic Zanklan, argue that their operations are fully compliant with Senegalese law and bring significant benefits to the country. ‘The project generated €149 million for Senegal in 2023,’ Zanklan told AFP. He said the company paid €25 million in taxes and dividends and employs nearly 2,000 people—97 percent of them Senegalese, with almost half from local communities.
Zanklan dismissed calls for a pause, stating, ‘A moratorium would be irresponsible. It would mean putting 2,000 people out of work and halting economic benefits for Senegal.’ He added that EGC plans to increase the dredger’s capacity by 20 percent by 2026.
However, villagers like Ibrahima Ba argue the reclaimed land promised by EGC hasn’t been returned to them but to the state, preventing farmers from resuming their traditional livelihoods. ‘We have gone backwards in every way,’ Ba said. ‘Our fertile land is gone, and the water is no longer clean.’
Calls for reform grow louder
Tourist operators, farmers, and local leaders are uniting in their demand for change. Sheikh Yves Jacquemain, who runs an eco-lodge in Lompoul, is holding out for fair compensation for him and his 40 employees. Of the seven tourist camps in Lompoul, six have already relocated.
As the giant dredger continues carving through the Lompoul dunes, the debate intensifies. Many are urging President Faye to fulfil his campaign promises and protect Senegal’s environment and its people.
AFP reports that for many locals, the conflict has become a symbol of the broader struggle over who truly benefits from Senegal’s natural resources.
Credit: Africabriefing
