Last update:
2017-03-06

Imider Silver Mine, Morocco

Imider is the biggest mine on the African continent, and 7th largest producer of silver in the world. It is also home to a 5-year long fight, as a group of protesters has been living on Mount Alebban, protecting the village's groundwater.



Description:

Imider is the biggest mine on the African continent, and 7th largest producer of silver in the world. It is also home to a 5-year long fight (preceded by decades of mobilizations), as a group of protesters has been living on Mount Alebban, about 300km east of Marrakesh, since August 2011.   The mine is run by Societe Metallurgique d'Imider (SMI), founded in 1969. SMI started extracting silver in 1978. Some protests took place in 1986 against the digging of a well which would have had a negative impact on local inhabitant and farmers. Leaders of the protest were imprisoned and wells were dug, to the detriment of the local community.

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Basic Data
Name of conflict:Imider Silver Mine, Morocco
Country:Morocco
State or province: Tinghir Province, Drâa-tafilalte administrative region
Location of conflict:Imider (or Imiter)
Accuracy of locationHIGH (Local level)
Source of Conflict
Type of conflict. 1st level:Mineral Ores and Building Materials Extraction
Type of conflict. 2nd level:Water access rights and entitlements
Mineral ore exploration
Landfills, toxic waste treatment, uncontrolled dump sites
Mineral processing
Specific commodities:Silver
Water
Industrial waste
Project Details and Actors
Project details

In recent years the mine produced between 185-240 tonnes of silver-metal, with 99.5% purity.

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Type of populationUnknown
Affected Population:Local farmers, Amazigh people
Start of the conflict:01/08/2011
Company names or state enterprises:Societe Metallurgique d'Imider (Imiter Metallurgic Company, SMI) from Morocco - Operator
Relevant government actors:The Imider Mine is operated by La Societe Metallurgique d'Imider (Imiter Metallurgic Company, SMI) a subsidiary of Managem S.A.. Managem is owned by Societe Nationale d'Investissement (SNI), a private holding company owned by the Moroccan royal family.
Conflict & Mobilization
IntensityMEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization)
Reaction stageIn REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation)
Groups mobilizing:Farmers
Indigenous groups or traditional communities
Informal workers
Neighbours/citizens/communities
Pastoralists
Women
Ethnically/racially discriminated groups
Led by Berber Amazigh community, Migrant workers, unemployed youth
Forms of mobilization:Artistic and creative actions (eg guerilla theatre, murals)
Blockades
Development of alternative proposals
Land occupation
Public campaigns
Sabotage
Street protest/marches
Property damage/arson
Occupation of buildings/public spaces
Closing down of one of the water sources - financial impact felt for 2 years, social media activism
Impacts
Environmental ImpactsVisible: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Food insecurity (crop damage), Waste overflow, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems
Potential: Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity
Health ImpactsVisible: Other Health impacts
Potential: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Occupational disease and accidents, Deaths
Other Health impactsCancer
Socio-economical ImpactsVisible: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Militarization and increased police presence, Violations of human rights
Potential: Land dispossession
Outcome
Project StatusIn operation
Conflict outcome / response:Corruption
Criminalization of activists
Deaths, Assassinations, Murders
Strengthening of participation
Violent targeting of activists
As a result of the protest the mine was forced to operate at reduced capacity. One activist has spent 4 years in jail and others have also been arrested.
Proposal and development of alternatives:The demands of the protesters are simple. They want an independent environmental study on the impact of the mine. They want jobs and education, better infrastructure and health care.
They demand that 75 percent of all future jobs in the mine should go to young people from Imider.
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:Not Sure
Briefly explain:While the mine is still operating, and justice has not been served, the persistence of the organising is admirable. Further the resistance has led to increased democratic organizing with the encampment holding regular general assemblies using the Agraw system, an ancient model of Amazigh democratic tribal governance that include men, women and children from the seven villages comprising Imider, who meet twice a week to assess the community's situation and strategies.
Sources & Materials
References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries

[1] Alan Green (2015). Moroccan silver draws miners and protesters. Middle East Eye. 20 August 2015
[click to view]

[2] Nadir Bouhmouch and Kristian Davis Bailey (2015). A Moroccan village's long fight for water rights. Al Jazeera Online. 13 December 2015
[click to view]

[3] Financial Times (n.d.). Societe Metallurgique d'Imiter SA
[click to view]

[4] Zakariaa El Farhi (2016). Five years of Protests against a Silver Mining Company in “Imider”. The Moroccan Times. 18 November 2016.
[click to view]

[5] Imider vs. COP22: Understanding Climate Justice from Morocco’s Peripheries, Jadaliyya, Nov. 21., 2016
[click to view]

[6] On Moroccan Hill, Villagers Make Stand Against a Mine, By AIDA ALAMI, JAN. 23, 201
[click to view]

Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network

Official website
[click to view]

Meta information
Contributor:Platform London
Last update18/08/2019
Conflict ID:2679
Comments
Legal notice / Aviso legal
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