By TOBIAS CHANJI
The Minister for Environment and Mineral Resources Chirau Mwakwere has revoked the licence of a mining company from India and warned another firm that it could face similar fate if it did not follow rules.
Mr Mwakwere said the licence of JSW company was cancelled because it did not abide fully with mining procedures.
At the same time the minister warned Cortec Kenya, which has been mining Niobium at Mrima, that it risked having its licence revoked for flouting regulations.
The minister spoke during a tour of some of the mining sites in Msambweni District, including Cortec and Base Titanium. Environment PS Ali Mohamed accompanied him.
“We had an agreement with the company in April to carry out survey of minerals in the region but now we have stopped our engagement with them because it has not assisted the community the way it had promised to,” said Mohamed.
The minister wondered how a single company was awarded surveying rights for the entire Coast Province when there are so many other companies. Earlier, the chairman of the county council Paul Makiri had complained that the council had not been consulted.
“We are starting investigation and if it turns out that the council was not involved then I’m very sorry you will lose your prospecting licence. It is a big joke that out of the over four trillion shillings that would be accrued the company has only built two schools for the community,” he said.
Mwakwere said the company has engaged another company overseas firm by selling them shares.
“You don’t sell your shares when you are only prospecting and you should regulate your application through the council, failure to which you will lose your licence,” warned Mwakwere.
