GOVT SUSPENDS GOLD MINING LICENCES
By ROGERS KALERO THE Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development has suspended all gold mining licences so that it can review and establish which Gold mining companies are using fake licences in their operations.
Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma said the ever increasing number of companies carrying out illegal Gold mining operations had forced government to suspend all Gold mining licences so that it could establish which Gold mining companies were using fake licences.
The Mines Minister said in an interview in Kitwe on Monday that gold mining companies with genuine licences should not worry about government's decision to suspend all Gold mining licences because the decision was aimed at curbing illegal gold mining activities in the country.
"A number of things are happening in the ministry of mines which are aimed at developing the sector and ensuring that illegal mining activities are stopped. So right now, I can tell you that we have suspended all Gold mining licences so that we review and establish which gold mining companies are using fake licences.
"A number of companies have been carrying out illegal gold mining operations and so government has decided to move in and curb this illegality. Those with genuine licences should not worry because theirs will remain valid," Mr Yaluma said.
Mr Yaluma also disclosed that his ministry had embarked on serious mapping to get up-todate information regarding various minerals so that prospective investors could be given accurate information on various minerals in the country.
He said, if prospective investors were given accurate information on various minerals, they would not spend a lot of time on exploration because they would have already information through the map.
He also disclosed that for Gas and Oil, 12 licences have been put in place, out of which two have gone into serious investigations.
"So, as a ministry, we are moving in a right direction, but we will not allow illegal activities in the ministry. Those who want to invest in the mining of various minerals, they will be given the necessary support they will require.
"As a ministry, we have embarked on serious mapping to get up-to-date information regarding various minerals so that prospective investors could be given accurate information on various minerals in the country," He said.
He also said the mining sector was set to rump up production after recovering from the various adverse effects like low copper prices at the London Metal Exchange which resulted into low production and retrenchments.