Firm gets nod to explore for more Coast minerals

The Government has given an Australian mining firm the go-ahead to explore for more minerals in the coastal region.

Base Titanium is also awaiting a second licence after its application was approved by the licensing committee in the Ministry of Mining several months ago.

The firm has been mining Titanium in Msambweni since Feb 2014.

The areas to be explored include Ramisi, Majoreni and Vanga, which is in Lungalunga.

According to Base Titanium General Manager Joe Schwarz, the company carried out an aerial geophysical survey in June last year which indicated  potential for additional mineral sands occurrences.

"It is with this background that we applied for a prospecting licence where we now plan to drill to prove up or otherwise the existence and viability of additional resources," he said.

The company has been mining and exporting Titanium for two years now.

The investment has seen the setting up of a massive project infrastructure, which currently stands at Sh26 billion, making the mine one of the country's flagship operations in the minerals sector.

Thursday, Schwarz the company was working with the Ministry of Mining to meet all necessary requirements.

"We have also undertaken extensive stakeholder engagement since June this year to ensure that all interested parties are fully appraised and provide informed consent to the exploration programme. This has included the county government, the various arms of the administration, the political leadership, communities themselves and other special interest groups," he said.