UNEARTHING PWANI’S RICHES THROUGH MINERAL EXPLORATION

UNEARTHING PWANI’S RICHES THROUGH MINERAL EXPLORATION

The mining sub-sector account for about 1% of the GDP and contributed about Kenya Shillings 11 billion to the national export earnings in 2008, the majority contributed by the soda ash operation at Lake Magadi in south-central Kenya.

Kenya is endowed with a wide range of minerals such as soda ash, fluorspar, limestone, barite, gypsum, salt, dimension stone, silica sand, soapstone, manganese, copper, zinc, titanium, lead, nickel, carbon dioxide, chromite, pyrite, rare earth elements and phyrochore. Gold is produced primarily by artisanal workers in the west and south western parts of the country, on several small greenstone belts while Iron ore is mined from small localized deposits for use in the domestic manufacture of cement.

I emphasize here that mining can act as an engine for socio-economic development by diversifying exports, widening the tax base, generating skilled employees, creating demand for local goods and services, making contribution to infrastructure development. However there is inadequate geological information on the Country’s mineral potential and outdated legislation still govern the Industry.  While it is true that all unexplored minerals remain as the Government’s property, to maximize benefits from the sector, the participation of the private sector must not be overlooked. This in my opinion calls for policy and legislative reforms.

More focus should be put on intensifying geological mapping and geo-data management to facilitate understanding of the country’s geology, its associated hazards and exploitation of mineral resources which will provide information that may lead to discovery of minerals of commercial value while also maximize the benefits of already available ones.

Mining of Limestone for cement manufacturing, Iron ore, Titanium is done in Kwale while Celica for sheet glass and Gemstones mining occurs in Taveta regions of the Coast Province. Clearly seen as one of the largest potential capital projects in Kenya is the Kwale Hill heavy mineral sands project that is being developed along the country's south-eastern coast. The question is what has been done to exploit this great potential? It is sad to note that despite the huge potential of mining in the Coast, it remains largely undeveloped. Most of these minerals still remain unexploited due to inadequate knowledge on their status, economic viability and appropriate mining technologies.

A thriving mining industry in the Coast Province can be achieved through encouraging small scale mining which offers opportunities to support rural livelihoods and local entrepreneurship by addressing the factors that limit small- scale mining, particularly lack of access to finance and recognition of mineral rights and incentives to operate legally. Small scale mining groups or individuals need to be encouraged to form cooperatives and register self-help groups so that they are able to attract necessary resources to enable them develop sustainable operations. Together with this, community sensitization on mining activities and its benefits is key. Whereas titanium is largely available in Kwale, very few locals understand its worth. Due to its excellent resistance to sea water and lightweight, titanium is used in the construction of make fishing vessels and ships which transverse the great oceans in the world. As an important pigment for industrial, domestic and artistic applications, it could play a big role in the paint industry. Titanium also has potential use in desalination plants for converting sea water into fresh water. Such an understanding, I believe would increase business involvement in the industry.  Modernizing the mineral laboratory would guarantee up-to-date sampling and testing and adoption of modern techniques in mining and environment protection is paramount to minimize environmental degradation attributed to mining activities.

I also encourage the University colleges in the region; Pwani University College, Taita Taveta University College and Mombasa Polytechnic University College to strengthen programmes in Mining and mineral exploration as a way of building up the human resource base for the industry. The middle level colleges also have a role to play in providing hands on skills on the different aspects of the economic activity.

Under the new constitution the Government is obliged to ensure sustainable exploitation of the environment and natural resources as well as equitable sharing of the accruing benefits. Already, an appropriate mineral prospecting and mining policy conducive to investment and Private Public Partnerships (PPP) in the mining sector is in place. A draft mining and Minerals bill seeks to address intergenerational equity and sustainable utilization of mineral resources. Environmental conservation in mineral resource development, alternative mine closure and development of new mine sites together with value addition of raw minerals before export as a way of increasing returns for the people of Kenya. The policy is expected to unlock the potential of the mining sector in Kenya to attract new investment in the exploration for and exploitation of minerals resources so that the country is able to compete for international investment effectively.

The Government through the Nuclear Electricity Project plans to adopt the use of nuclear energy as a long-term energy source for the country by the year 2022. Alluvial deposits of uranium which is raw material in nuclear energy production found along the coastline in Kenya could make this dream a reality because of the readily available raw material.

I propose that the Government set-up raw materials research Institute to help explore on maximizing the potential of these minerals through value-addition for economic development. I think the Coast Province is the most ideal site given its great wealth of minerals.

It is important for the leadership in this industry to strive and identify appropriate technology that can be used. Benchmarking with countries like Canada could help country adopt such technologies.

The Coastal population should seriously take up this economic activity to their advantage.  Local leaders should create enabling environment for investors to encourage investment and ensure that the province reaps the full economic and social benefits that mining development promises. The expected economic benefits should be maximized through capacity building and promotion of value addition.