By Wagema Mwangi
The government is close to finalizing a Sh5.8 billion mining investment deal, paving the way for Kenya’s first modern gold refinery in Lidambitsa, Ikolomani, Kakamega County.
The refinery aims to provide a reliable market for thousands of artisanal and small-scale miners in Kenya’s gold sub-sector from gold-mining counties, including Migori, Kakamega, Narok, Kisumu, Nandi, West Pokot, and Isiolo.
Additionally, Turkana, Siaya, and Marsabit, with substantial gold deposits, will also benefit.
Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Mining Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Salim Mvurya, has hailed the Kakamega Gold Refinery as a gamechanger for the gold sub-sector in Kenya, stating that it will promote socio-economic development for artisanal gold miners across the country.
The CS further disclosed that the government was aggressively seeking more strategic investors to undertake capital-intensive investment ventures in the mining sector that prioritized value-addition and enrichment for minerals including copper, clinker, diatomite and manganese.
“The establishment of this gold refinery is in tandem with the vision and commitment that we hold dear on creating value addition centers to increase the value and prices for our minerals,” says the CS.
Already, significant strides have been made towards operationalization of this multi-billion shilling plant. The state has already acquired a 14-acre land parcel and processed land ownership documents for the facility’s site. Additional approvals by National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) on environmental compliance and a no-objection letter by the Kakamega County government have equally been granted. The local community has also been brought on board as key stakeholders in the process.
The penultimate step before the investor moves to site will be key negotiations with the government over the state’s stake in this lucrative investment. According to the Mining Act 2016, the state is mandated to acquire a 10 percent Free Carried Interest stake for large-scale mineral operations.
According to the Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for Mining, Elijah Mwangi, the relentless drive for the establishment of mineral value addition centers in Kenya is at the heart of the envisaged reforms in the mining sector.
“Our firm resolve has been to have artisanal miners get proper value for their products. This will be possible through promoting investments that will process minerals leading to better prices for their minerals and creation of jobs. This is the positive ripple effect of value addition facilities in the mineral sector,” he explains.
The Kakamega Gold Refinery becomes another major mining investment deal by the government after the February signing of the Sh 4.8 billion contract by Soy-Fujax Limited for the revival of Fluorspar Mining at Kimwarer area in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
According to the 2022 Economic Survey, Kenya’s annual average gold production from 2017 to 2021 was 360kg. The bulk of this production was by the artisanal miners whose number is estimated to be in excess of two hundred thousand. However, absence of good market and perpetual exploitation by unscrupulous brokers has confined the artisanal miners to a life of penury. It is this cycle that the government wants to break and introduce profitability in their trade.
The joint investment by the investors, China’s Heng Nuo Rongchang Trading Company and H. Nuo Kenya Company Trading Limited, will see the construction of a smelter and a mineral laboratory at the site.
To promote operational sustainability, the investor plans to enter into partnerships with gold miners’ marketing cooperatives to extend technical support for equipment for increase in daily productivity.
During a meeting with the investors at his office, Kakamega’s County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance and Planning Livingstone Imbayi said the gold refinery project is a major boost for efforts by the county to spur development and create employment opportunities for youth in the region.
He further noted the county, aware of the transformational impact such a project would have, had committed to working with all stakeholders to have the facility operational.
“We are looking forward to commencement of this project because of the potential positive impact it will have for this region and beyond. With a ready market and jobs for our youth, we need this project,” he said.
With the aim of transforming it into an internationally standardized gold refinery, the Lidabitsa facility will have an extra-mineral recovery component to isolate and recover secondary minerals that naturally occur alongside gold ore, including zinc, copper, silver, and some base metals.
This will maximize returns for artisanal miners and the investor. To enhance sustainability, the refinery is expected to also process gold from artisanals from the East African Community (EAC) bloc and beyond.
With a proposal to process raw ore with 80 percent gold, geologists and mining engineers opine that a hybrid processing facility will push for plant optimization and offer the investor multiple benefits by processing other minerals like copper that exist in abundance in the region.
Gold artisanal miners are optimistic that this refinery will address the long-standing challenges of a poor market, smuggling, and exploitation.
Mr. Patrick Ligami, the chair of Kakamega County Artisanal Mining Committee, said the refinery is a welcome investment for gold miners in Kenya. He added that ensuring operational continuity and sustainability required empowering the artisanal miners to boost their daily production.
Mr. Ligami further said that additional regulations to empower the artisanal cooperatives to manage and operate gold leaching plants might be required. Such a move would see all gold mined in areas under the cooperatives channeled towards the refinery.
“This is a positive win for the artisanals who should be at the heart of gold processing and operations. Once empowered to bolster their daily production, they will earn more and help the refinery to operate optimally,” he said.
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