Kenya has declared the discovery of the valuable coltan mineral used to produce laptops, cell phones, and other electronic devices. Mining CS Salim Mvurya (left) with Embu governor Cecily Mbarire. What Coltan deposits mean for Kenya The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Mining and Blue Economy, Salim Mvurya, announced on Wednesday, January 24, that sufficient coltan deposits were discovered in six counties. The discovery of the rare metallic mineral in Kenya is expected to boost the nation’s profile as a mineral exporter. Coltan is mostly mined in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Mvurya announced during a visit to Embu, one of the counties found to have mineral deposits. “It is now official. We have coltan deposits in the country and we want to see how we can inspire the investors,” Mvurya disclosed. Mvurya said the government would establish laboratory services in eight regions, conducting sample testing and determining the quality of minerals found in each region. What survey showed about Kenya’s minerals In March 2023, a survey by the Ministry of Mining unearthed over 950 minerals across the country. The minerals include industrial minerals, base metals, precious metals, rare earth and radio-active minerals and gemstones. Ministry of Mining noted that 15 counties had the highest prospects of mineral wealth. These include Kitui, Embu, Tana River, Kilifi, Isiolo, Makueni, Taita-Taveta and Kwale. Others are Homa Bay, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi and Kericho. The said counties had deposits of copper, graphite, manganese, iron ore, coltan, base metals, nickel chromite, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, thorium, and nickel-cobalt. Which mineral was discovered in Migori? Elsewhere, residents of Rongo in Migori county were counting their blessings after gold was discovered while constructing a new road. The construction of the Rongo-Kisii Road temporarily stalled after residents discovered gold deposits in the murram being excavated in the area. Hundreds of residents descended on the North-Sakwa ward in search of the precious mineral as they scrambled to make a kill from the rare finding.
BY TUKO NEWS