. Establishment of the plant will unleash the full potential of natural resources and bolster the region's economy.
.The region holds a great potential in mining and mineral processing due to the large mineral deposits.
Image: SOLOMON MUINGI
The process of building an iron-ore processing and value addition facility in Taita Taveta county has started.
Mining CS Salim Mvurya held an engagement with county leadership to discuss the possibility of establishing the multi-billion plant.
Devki group of companies founder Narendra Guru has expressed interest in building the plant in Kishushe, Wundanyi constituency.
One week ago, Guru met with Governor Andrew Mwadime to discuss a partnership to create employment opportunities for the youth through iron ore processing.
Mvurya said the government has mapped Taita Taveta as one of the key counties for iron ore value addition and processing.
The establishment of the plant, Mvurya said, will unleash the full potential of natural resources and bolster the region's economy.
"Creation of employment opportunities that come with the processing, refining and manufacturing of minerals; transfer of skills, knowledge and technology; and revenue generation are but a few benefits of minerals value addition," the said.
Processing of local minerals means an increase in value for minerals mined locally in both regional and international markets while at the same creating job opportunities for local residents.
The CS, accompanied by PS Elijah Mwangi said the state targets to revolutionise the mining, trading and processing of iron-ore.
Mvurya said this will accelerate exploring the mineral's full potential.
He said the region holds a great potential in mining and mineral processing due to the large deposits.
Taita Taveta has deposits of gemstones such as tsavorite, ruby, chrome tourmaline, yellow tourmaline, red garnets, green garnets and tanzanite.
Other minerals are manganese, iron ore, marble, limestone and quartz.
The county has a modern gemstone processing, value addition and marketing plant in Voi.
The facility plays a key role in promoting gemstone trade for thousands of artisanal miners.
Image: SOLOMON MUINGI
Mvurya said the Ministry is keen on implementing reforms in mining sector to support value addition of minerals.
He asked residents to support development ventures that will improve livelihoods and trigger positive growth.
"Let all stakeholders and residents support this investment because it will place the county on the national map," Mvurya said.
The CS said the department has finalised a draft proposal on mining in national parks and is ready for stakeholders engagement.
The new law will be a reprieve to hundreds of artisanal and small-scale miners who have been pushing to acquire mining licenses to mine inside Tsavo National parks.
The expansive twin park forms parts of the minerals belt in the region.
Mwangi said the department is fully dedicated to work with county government and investors to establish transformative value-addition facilities in Kenya.
"In the past six months, the ministry has registered monumental gains in engaging strategic investors who are establishing value addition centres," he said.
For instance, one investor is setting up a gold-refinery facility in Kakamega for gold artisanal miners while another investor is establishing a granite plant in Vihiga county.
"In Elgeyo Marakwet, another investor has started to revive operations of the Fluorspar plant while another investor has been engaged to put up a soap stone processing facility in Kisii county," Mwangi said.
The ministry is also eyeing an investor to put up a copper-processing plant that will support copper mining for miners in Eastern region including Kitui and Tharaka Nithi counties.
Mwadime promised to rally behind the investment that is set to open up the region.
He said that the local leadership will ensure full public involvement in the project to minimise conflicts and guarantee widespread acceptability.
The county boss said his administration is banking on investors to grow the economy and create jobs for hundreds of unemployed youths.
Other leaders in the meeting were Deputy Governor Christine Saru Kilalo, Senator Jones Mwaruma, MPs Khamis Chome (Voi), Danson Mwashako (Wundanyi) and Speaker Mwamburi.