Kenya to issue new mining licences from June

The  government of Kenya is set to issue new mining licenses from June. This year after a three-year freeze. The moratorium on issuing mineral rights was put in place in December 2019 to allow the government to map the country’s mineral deposits through the Airborne Geological Survey, which has since been completed.

The survey identified 970 mineral occurrences across the country. The government also conducted a comprehensive audit of all mineral rights holders to clean up existing data, with the aim of degazetting expired and inactive licenses. The ministry is also developing a Mineral Processing and Value Addition Policy to increase earnings from the sector.

Mining in Kenya

“Moratorium was to safeguard Kenya’ national interests by developing the right data and eliminate speculation on availability of substantial mineral deposits. The suspension would also allow the government to complete the mapping exercise without an influx of speculative mining license applications that would have posed a threat to Kenya’s mining sector. Currently, the ministry is at the forefront of forming artisanal miners’ cooperatives from the over 420 identified Community Based Organizations and other groups in preparation for their issuance of mining permits,” said Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya.

Mining in Kenya yields high-grade quantities of gold, copper, ilmenite and tantalum. Kenya is also an important source of non-metallic minerals including soda ash, limestone, salt, niobium, fluorspar and fossil fuels. Mvurya said preliminary report of the geophysical survey has shown that there are 970 mineral occurrences across the country which will require further confirmation in order to open the areas for new investments.