Katavi Mining Company Limited (KMCL) general manager Mr Mahamood Yass (2R) speaks to Regional Commissioner for Katavi, Ms Mwamvua Mrindoko. PHOTO | COURTESY
Summary
·
The
expansion is expected to double its production to 2,400 tonnes of ore per day
Katavi. In a bid to double its investment to $534 million from the current $267 million, Katavi Mining Company Limited (KMCL) plans to implement an expansion programme involving 54 square
kilometres of land.The expansion is expected to double
its production to 2,400 tonnes of ore per day.
KMCL human resource manager Twalib
Self said the expansion programme will be implemented shortly after completing
the ongoing feasibility study.
“Extraction is expected to start sooner rather
than later if everything goes according to plan,” he said, hinting that the
expansion will reduce exportation of mining tailings for separation and
purification.
He said currently, the company
exports thousands of tonnes for separation purification.
KMCL general manager Mahmood Yass
said $267 million has been invested since 2010 for construction and
installation of plants and machineries.
He also focused on investing in new
technology to boost production and improve the livelihood of small scale
miners.
“Since 2021, we have spent over Sh9
billion for purchasing mineral tailings from small-scale miners abandoned in
different mining sites,” he said.
“We are projecting to spend Sh24
billion, a move that will significantly boost the economic situation of small
scale miners in the area.”
Furthermore, Mr Yass said over 200
containers of mineral tailings have been exported to China for separation since
2021, with an average of 32,850 tonnes of gold and copper concentrates produced
annually.
According to him, the company has
created 522 direct and indirect jobs to Tanzanians and foreign experts.
Small scale miners regional chairman
William Mbogo hailed the company for transforming the lives of miners by
purchasing mineral tailings that used to be discarded by different mines.
“In the past artisanal miners used
mercury for mineral processing. However, due to the types of minerals which are
found in the Katavi Region, they ended up with extremely minimal efficiency,”
he said.
Mr Mbogo said from the previous
separation, small scale miners earned an average of Sh900,000, noting that
currently they generate up to Sh10 million.
Katavi resident mining officer
Andrew Mwalugaja said since 2021, about Sh49.29 billion worth minerals have
been extracted by the company.
From the extraction, the government
has collected Sh9.5 billion in royalties, while Katavi District and Municipal
Councils have collectively earned Sh147 million in levies and charges.
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