Exploration of coal deposits in three counties at the Coast has been stepped up and on Thursday the Ministry of Mining and geologists said initial studies indicate that there are huge coal deposits in these parts.
Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said on Thursday in Taru, Kwale county that exploratory results for the Taru basin in Kwale and Kilifi will be released in three months and that initial studies indicate that coal deposits here exceed what has been found in Mui Basin, in Mwingi Constituency.
Other than coal, geologists say the ongoing explorations in these parts have also revealed that there could be uranium, gypsum, titanium and zircon minerals deposits in the coastal counties.
“We have so far drilled seven holes and we had targeted ten in Taru Basin in this financial year. We have bought two new exploration machines and will intensify the search for coal in Kilifi, Kwale and Taita Taveta because early studies indicate we could have huge deposits than even in Mui,” said Balala.
John Waita, Principal Superintendent Geologist in the ministry, said from sample studies in these counties there are indications we have uranium, titanium and zircon because the area lies along the so-called Karoo belt that runs from Southern African nations where these minerals are found.
The CS also directed Kilifi and Kwale County commissioners to arrest firms conducting illegal exploration in the two counties, adding that some unscrupulous companies were prospecting for mineral deposits in the area.
Last week, a team of geologists from the ministry arrived in Taita Taveta to start the geo-scientific coal exploration in the vast ranches in the area.
The team said that the national and the county governments had commenced exploration to determine the quantity and quality of coal deposits for investment and industrial development purposes.
Geological experts say mineral reserves in this region are quite huge and remain significantly untapped to improve the socio-economic status of the local community.
Records from the geological department indicate that the region contains more than 485 types of industrial minerals and another 197 of semi-precious nature.
The Taru Basin lies along the sediments dating millions of years back that stretches from the Karoo mine zones in South Africa and it is believed to have huge mineral deposits.
According to John Waita, Principal Superintendent Geologist in the ministry, South African countries were already benefiting from the huge mineral deposits contained at the sediments.
“All countries along the Karoo sediments are extracting the minerals for commercial purposes and chances for us to get huge deposits are high,” said Balala.
The government has already concessioned Block C and D of the Mui Coal to Fenxi Mining Industry Co of China to develop a coal deposit of 400 million metric tons.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join