The government will carry out a countrywide geo-survey to ascertain the kind and availability of minerals in the country.

Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy Salim Mvurya said yesterday the data gathered from the survey will enable the government to make conclusive decisions on the viability of minerals.

Speaking when he toured the ongoing Mombasa Agricultural Trade fair, he said currently there is no any meaningful information on the state of minerals. 

He said the country relies on inconclusive surveys conducted years ago by private international organisations in their mother countries. The CS added that the move has denied the country some royalties as most minerals are exported with very little knowledge of the government officials.

“Of late we’ve seen large amounts of minerals being exported on claims that it’s being taken for verification and nothing comes back on the same,” he said adding that soon his ministry will come up with some legislation that will help govern the mining industry for the good of the locals and the country at large. 

 The minister outlined once the new legislation comes into force application for any mining activity shall be done online for efficiency and value for money.

The legislation, he explained would  also indicate the kind of intervention the government will put in place to assist locals who venture into mining who’ve been conducting their activities on very dangerous environment. 

 The security of miners has always been at stake and the situation is getting dire every day.   He singled out the Gem miners in Taita Taveta, who use some torch to search for minerals in deep caves saying that will be a thing of the past once the legislation is approved by the Parliament.

 However, Mvurya said some surveys are already being undertaken in some parts of the country though on  a small scale adding that soon the government will roll out a comprehensive plan to conduct a country wide geo survey exercise.

“We want to understand exactly what quantity of which minerals are found within the Kenyan boundaries cause we cannot just assume that there are minerals which we cannot ascertain of their availability,” he said.

Cooling facilities

On the issue of fishing, the Cabinet Secretary said the government is mapping out Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) that will be used for fishing and other Blue Economy activities. He said the government will no longer allow the exportation of raw fish to other parts of the world with no regard to the locals economic output. 

 He said the Sh3.5 billion given to the Jumuiya ya County za Pwani by the European Union will go along way in revamping not only the fishing industry but the Blue Economy expensive activities.

Meanwhile, hopes are high in Elgeyo-Marakwet county after the government embarked on efforts to revive the collapsed Fluorspar Mining Company which rendered more than 10,000 people jobless.

Mvurya, who held a meeting with Elgeyo-Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich said the mining company is among industries identified for revival by the government to boost the local economy.

“I acknowledge the county government’s efforts in trying to see that the factory resumes operations. The priority for the Kenya Kwanza government is to help the industries to start producing again. I promise you that you will have full support from my office,” said Mvurya.

 The mining company was closed down in 2016 after market conditions led to a dramatic reduction in fluorspar prices and demand rendering many company operations unsustainable in the current market.