The government has issued warning to individuals against mining activities on minerals classified as strategic such as Copper, Coltan and Chromite.
The government-imposed moratorium in December 2019 to among other reasons, protect its interest and carry out reforms in the mining sector with the aspiration of making the sector contribute 10 per cent to GDP in the next six years.The cabinet in its sitting held in October last year agreed for phased lifting of moratorium which began with lifting on all construction and industrial minerals.Other important issues from the reforms include declaration of mineral smuggling as an economic crime.“As a Ministry, we are committed to execute the reforms in the Mining Sector to the fullest. This includes total protection of strategic minerals from merchants of impunity who are attempting to plunder our mineral resource through circumventing the law for selfish gains,” Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Ali Hassan Joho said in the statement dated September 14th.
The minerals have been classified as strategic minerals meaning that any activity including prospecting, mining, trading, dealing or processing is to be undertaken by or in partnership with The National Mining Corporation (NAMICO).
Joho said such acts are in total disregard of the law protecting the Minerals and those individuals operate in total contravention of the laid-down procedures as stipulated in the Mining Act, 2016 and Mining (Strategic Minerals) Regulations, 2017.
Artisanal mining activities have also been decriminalized. The miners have been directed to form marketing cooperatives for consideration on issuance of Artisanal Mining Permits by Artisanal Mining Committees. Consideration is currently on miners in marketing cooperatives or groups.
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