•Base Titanium which accounts for 65 per cent of Kenya's mineral exports will be shutting down due to the depletion of resources.
•It has eight pending exploration licenses with other investors also yet to get approvals despite being vetted.
Image: SHABAN OMAR
The government has been urged to fast-track the process of establishing and licensing mining activities in Kenya.
The Mining Engineers Society of Kenya (MESK) says the impending closure of Kenya’s largest mining company Base Titanium in Kwale County should be a wakeup call to the government, as it would result in significant job losses and a sharp drop in government revenue from the mining sector.
Base Titanium whose current mining activities end in December this year has eight pending prospecting licenses, which if issued, it will continue with exploration activities with potential future investment in commercial mining.
The Mining Engineers Society of Kenya (MESK) chairman, Joseph Komu, emphasised the gravity of the situation, noting that communities living around the mine site would be the most affected by the closure.
Base which accounts for 65 per cent of Kenya's mineral exports will be shutting down due to the depletion of resources.
“There should be an urgency to fast-track the licensing of the already vetted mining companies in the country, especially now that Base Titanium is winding down," Komu said.
Currently, there is a major backlog, he noted adding that if the delays in licensing continue, many qualified mining personnel in Kenya will be rendered jobless.
"With the government’s push for youth employment, sectors like mining, which is a low-hanging fruit like agriculture, needs to be prioritised.” said Komu
He further urged the ministry to involve sector experts in strategic decision-making and reviewing potential mining projects for development, to maintain the sector's growth and increase job creation.
The government should also to give special support for exploration projects to increase the possibility of discovering large-scale mining projects.
Meanwhile, the society has called on Mining CS Hassan Joho to hold a stakeholder meeting with its members and other key players in the industry.
This, Komu said, will allow deliberations on ways to drive the sector in a more sustainable manner that not only prevents the closure of large companies, but also increases the sector’s contribution to the economy and creates jobs for Kenyans.
The Mining Engineers body had visited Base Titanium for a familiarisation and benchmarking tour, which is expected to enhance collaboration between industry professionals and foster knowledge exchange on best practices in mining operations.
The tour was aimed at providing insights into Base Titanium's cutting-edge mining techniques, sustainability efforts, and community engagement initiatives.
Currently, the mining sector contributes less than one per cent of Kenya’s GDP, but experts believe it has the potential to contribute between four per cent and and 10 per cent, if the right policies and investments are implemented.
The society has urged the Ministry of Mining to take immediate steps to unlock this potential, by streamlining licensing processes, fostering local and foreign investments, and promoting sustainable mining practices.