Kenya set for crackdown on illegal mining of strategic minerals
The government of Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting strategic minerals. The Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, Ali Hassan Joho made the announcement and said a crackdown has been initiated on illegal mining activities involving Copper, Coltan and Chromite.
Strategic minerals are under strict control, meaning activities such as prospecting, mining, trading, dealing, or processing must be conducted by or in partnership with the National Mining Corporation (NAMICO).
These strategic minerals, gazetted by the Ministry, also include cobalt, graphite, lithium, nickel, niobium, tantalum, thorium, tsavorite, tin, rare earth elements, and uranium. CS Joho emphasized that activities related to these minerals, such as prospecting, mining, trading, or processing, must be conducted exclusively by or in partnership with the National Mining Corporation (NAMICO).
Safeguarding Kenya’s mineral wealth
The crackdown is in line with regulations aimed at safeguarding Kenya’s mineral wealth, following a gazette notice on November 2023. The regulations are based on the Mining Act 2016 and the Mining (Strategic Minerals) Regulations 2017, which seek to ensure that the country’s mineral resources are responsibly managed to maximize national benefits. The country also aims at increasing the sector’s contribution to the GDP to 10%. The reforms include a phased lifting of the moratorium on mining activities, starting with construction and industrial minerals, while strategic minerals remain heavily regulated.
Additionally, artisanal miners are now required to form marketing cooperatives to be considered for Artisanal Mining Permits, which are issued by Artisanal Mining Committees. This approach aims to bring small-scale mining activities into a formalized and regulated framework.
