Mineral mapping starts this week
Malawi Government is set to undertake a multi-billion kwacha mineral exploration beginning this week.
According to Minister of Mining John Bande, the two-year mapping exercise bankrolled by the World Bank, European Union and the French Government will launch with one exploration plane hovering over Zalewa in Mwanza, parts of the Northern Region, lakeshore areas and the Shire Valley where mineral deposits have been reported.
He made the remarks on Thursday when he toured Zalewa Agricultural Lime Company (Zalco) in Mwanza and Terrastone’s Quarry at Njuli, Blantyre.
The ministry’s figures show the industry provides about 10 percent of the GDP, seven points up from the three percent recorded before opening Kayelekera Uranium Mine in 2009.
“Surveys have shown that we have so much of untapped resources and a lot is happening in the mining industry, but we don’t know how much wealth we have beneath the ground,” said Bande in an interview.
President Joyce Banda recently signed a power interconnection pact with Mozambique to tap electricity from Cahora-Bassa.
