Kenyan Govt Receives 4 Applications for Gold Mining Licenses, Invites Any Objections
- The Ministry of Mining has received four applications for gold mining licences and other minerals in various locations
- Mining CS Hassan Ali Joho announced that the applications are available on the ministry’s online portal and invited members of the public to submit objections before the deadline
- The ministry shared the names of the companies seeking mining licenses and the locations they are targeting
CHECK OUT: How to Start Earning with Copywriting in Just 7 Days – Even if You’re a Complete Beginner
Elijah Ntongai, an editor at TUKO.co.ke, has over four years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting experience, providing insights into Kenyan, African, and global trends.
The Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs has received four applications for gold mining licences from companies seeking approval to conduct large-scale mineral extraction in different parts of the country.
Source: UGC
The applications were published by the ministry in the August 1 Kenya Gazette in line with the Mining Act (Cap. 306), which requires that all applications for mining rights be subjected to public scrutiny before approval.
Therefore, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Hassan Ali Joho, announced that the notices have been uploaded to the ministry’s online portal for transparency and easy access.
He also noted that the public could submit their objections to the issuance of the licences to the applicants.
"Any objection by any person or community against the grant of the mining licence may be submitted to the Cabinet secretary within forty-two (42) days from the date of this notice at the following address: The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Works Building, Ngong Road, P.O Box 30009-00100 Nairobi, E-mail: cs@mining.go.ke," read the notice signed by CS Joho.
Who applied for mining licences in Kenya?
According to the Gazette notices, the applicants include Shanta Gold Kenya Limited, Pwami Mineral Ventures Limited, and Sebit Investment Limited, which submitted applications for gold mining rights in two blocks.
Geo Earth Resources (Africa) Limited, Karsan Ramji and Sons Limited, and Ndovu Rock Limited filed applications for chromite, aggregate, and limestone mining, respectively.
Where will mining take place?
Shanta Gold Kenya Limited is seeking a mining licence to extract gold over a 15.38 km² area covering Siaya and Vihiga counties, identified under application number ML/2024/0200.
Pwami Mineral Ventures Limited has applied to mine gold on a 64.55 km² block in Samburu County, while Sebit Investment Limited submitted its application for gold extraction in West Pokot County, covering 334 Cadastral blocks and 286 Cadastral Blocks.
Other non-gold applications include Geo Earth Resources (Africa) Limited’s bid to mine chromite in Samburu County over a 56.28 km² area, Karsan Ramji and Sons Limited’s request for an aggregate mining licence in Kakamega and Uasin Gishu Counties, and Ndovu Rock Limited’s application for a 27.34 km² limestone mining area in Homa Bay County.
Source: Twitter
In addition to these mining licences, the ministry also received prospecting licence applications from Archers Post Investments Limited for manganese in Samburu County and iron ore in Taita Taveta, as well as a gold prospecting licence request from Sebit Investment Limited in West Pokot County.
Members of the public can submit objections or comments by post or email to the Cabinet Secretary’s office before the deadline.
The ministry will then assess all submissions before making final determinations on the issuance of the mining licences.
Which minerals are found in Kenya?
Earlier, the Ministry of Mining revealed that Kenya is home to over 970 mineral deposits spread across the country.
According to the report, 15 counties, including Kitui, Embu, Tana River, Turkana, Kilifi, Isiolo, Makueni, Taita-Taveta, Kwale, Homa Bay, West Pokot, Samburu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi, and Kericho, showed the highest mineral wealth prospects.
The Institute of Economic Affairs, the country could earn up to $3 billion (KSh 400 billion) annually or $78 billion (KSh 10.4 trillion) in 25 years if mining is fully exploited.
Valuable minerals discovered include coltan, which is used in manufacturing phones and laptops, significant gold reserves in Turkana, West Pokot, Marsabit, Isiolo, and Western Kenya, niobium deposits worth KSh 4.64 trillion in Kwale’s Mrima Hills, as well as copper, iron ore, manganese, graphite, coal, and mineral sands.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
