NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 24 – Australian firm-Base Titanium is working with the government and other mining stakeholders on the lifting of a moratorium on the issuance of mineral rights as it seeks to expand its operations in the country.
The freeze on the issuance of mining rights was put in place in November 2019 to pave way for the mapping of the country’s mineral deposits.
The firm in its update for the quarter ended December 2022 noted that its prospecting licence applications lodged for an area in the Kuranze region in Kwale County together with applications for an area south of Lamu, remain on hold pending the lifting of a Government of Kenya moratorium on the issuance of new mineral rights.
“The Company is working with the Government of Kenya, and other mining sector stakeholders, to see the moratorium lifted,” it said.
The three-year-long moratorium has slowed new investments in the mining sector which currently contributes less than 1 per cent of the country’s GDP.
President William Ruto has pledged to unlock the potential of the sector and make it a key driver of Kenya’s growth under his administration.
Base which commenced mining titanium ores in the country in 2013, has been keen to extend its operations in the country with the latest project being the implementation of the Bumamani Project, which will extend Kwale Operations mine life to December 2024.
The firm also noted mining activities on the Kwale North Dune remain on schedule to commence in March 2023.
“The subsets of the Kwale North Dune forming part of the Bumamani Project will be mined concurrently with the South Dune to maximize mining rates and better manage tailings,” it said.
Further, in its exploration activities, Base noted that the landowner consent for access for exploration activities to the area immediately North-East of Kwale Operations was secured during the quarter, with 320 holes for a total of 3,260m having been drilled by the end of the quarter.
Base noted that exploration in the area will continue in the March quarter as further land access is secured.
For Tanzania where Base also plans to extend operations, the firm noted that on-ground exploration in northern Tanzania progressed, with the initial 400m x 200m spaced reverse circulation drilling program being completed during the quarter.
Expenditure on exploration activities during the quarter in Kenya was USD158,000(Sh19.6 million) and in Tanzania was USD232,000(Sh28.8 million).
