Malawi discovers new mineral deposits: Minister anticipates booming mining sector

The Malawi Government has expressed optimism that the Country-wide High Resolution Airborne Geophysical Data will propel government plans of diversifying the economy.

Msaka: Malawi eyes mining investors
Msaka: Malawi eyes mining investors

Data obtained from the survey conducted between September 2013 and August 2014 which involved radiometric and gravity methods has been launched on Thursday in the capital city, Lilongwe.

Results from the survey, shows that there are mineral deposits across the country but Geological Survey Department is yet to interpret and conduct ground follow-up for the whole data set. However interested individuals and companies can still access the data and conduct their own interpretation and ground follow-ups based on their interest.

Speaking when launching the results, Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Bright Msaka, said the results from the survey are impressive enough to greatly improve the mining profile of Malawi.

He said this data is likely going to attract more investors and lead to stimulated mineral exploration.

The Minister then said from such intensive explorations, the country will start earning more revenue from the mining sector and possibly end the overdependence on Agriculture sector.

“Malawi’s economy has been agro-based since independence, relying a lot on revenue from major cash crops, in particular tobacco. However, various factors including the global anti-smoking lobby, unpredictable and hostile climatic conditions among others, have heavily affected the agricultural sector and subsequently, the country’s agrarian-dependent economy” noted the Minister when speaking on sidelines of heavy dependence of agriculture

To further enhance economic diversification and realize sustainable economic growth, Msaka mentioned that Malawi also will implement number of reforms in the mining sector.

He among others said government will introduce number of initiatives including enactment of mining related Acts.

In his remarks, European Union Head of Delegation to Malawi, Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann also noted that the new data marks beginning of development of mining sector as well as economic diversification and broadening of the resource base.

But he stressed that Malawi ought to be more transparent and properly manage resources generated from the sector including contracts and licenses to fully realize potential of the mining sector.

On other hand, Ambassador Gerrmann, hailed Malawi’s interest to join Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) saying this is a right direction geared towards more transparency in mining sector.

On 6th November, 2013, Malawi launched the Country-wide High Resolution Airborne Geophysical Survey at a function held at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, kicking off a massive search for high value mineral deposits.

The search involved low flying aircrafts hovering over the whole country and the exercise was widely known as ‘Kauniuni.

US$ 5.7 Million from World Bank Mining Governance and Growth Support Project (MGGSP) loan (amounting to US$ 25 million) was spent in acquiring the airborne data while, European Union co-financed the Project with a Grant amounting to 4.1 million Euros.

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Phwado
Phwado
8 years ago

Mutidyerenso agalu inu ngati Kayerekera.Pamsana panu!

kanenani
kanenani
8 years ago

What a stupid government thisone is?. Squandering money on sensiless function.
I thought ye gona tell us whereobout the minerals are.

Expert
Expert
8 years ago

IF data need interpretation then how did minister know we have new miniral deposits?

John Paul
8 years ago

Stupid DPP party is where all the mining monies will go.

Winston Msowoya
Winston Msowoya
8 years ago

From Angola’sAtlantic waters to Southern Sudan’s swamps,Afica has become a novel frontier for Western oil explorers where production and revenue are rising daily.The continent is crying out for foreign investment but,human rights groups say,the oil companies may be doing more harm than good by enriching u democratic and corrupt governments,fuelling civil wars and most dangerously,polluting the environment. Fundamentally and painstakingly,the exploited masses of Africa from oil rich areas have seen appalling benefit from gargantuan revenues generated in their regions.The money just vanishes.It is repatriated by the uncouth multinationals.In case of Angola,it went straight toward arms purchases during that civil war… Read more »

Hamdra
Hamdra
8 years ago

Wasting God given resources for Malawians for some greedy foreigners and a few greedy politicians.Malawis with its useless obsolete mining laws that do not benefit the common Malawian.

SOTHINI MBWENUMBWENU
SOTHINI MBWENUMBWENU
8 years ago

ONLY A FEW QUESTIONS:
THOSE AEROPLANES HAD MADE LOT OF NOISES, IN SOME PARTS OLD PARENTS HAD TO HIDE IN THIER HOUSES THINKING THEY WERE WAR PLANES UNTIL THE SOUND VANISHED: NOW;
….WHAT MINERALS ARE DISCOVERED.
….TELL US
….AND WHERE
…. QUANTITIES
THE DATA OBTAINED, INTERPRETATION IS A CHALLENGE. THEN HIRE THOSE LECTURERES FROM POLY TO INTREPRET.
THEY WILL NOT EVEN CHARGE.
WHATs WRONG REALLY?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Observer
Observer
8 years ago

Eyeing mining investors to venture in what we ourselves don’t even know what’s down there? Serious? Bring those investors and let them get richer at the expense of Malawians. LORD HAVE MERCY!!!!!!

Prescott
8 years ago

i do not think there is any substance in what Msaka has presented today. The meeting was a total waste of resources. What Malawians want to know are the actual quantities and locations of the said minerals not speculations. Please! Spare us from the trash.

John Thomas
John Thomas
8 years ago

The article is extremely misleading and creates false hopes – no context whatsoever was given by the minister. Mr Msaka is obviously not schooled in mineral issues and is not competent to talk about these matters. For such an important presentation, the ministry should have used a suitably qualified geologist or geophysicist to make sense of where we are at with the surveys and that there are many years down the line before we can say for certain what the findings are and what they mean. in a nutshell, the airborne geophysical survey does not and cannot result in anyone… Read more »

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