Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) Salim Mvurya has urged innovators to come up with innovative ideas that will inspire real investments in the Blue Economy and Mining sectors.
CS Mvurya noted that Blue Economy is gaining momentum, and they are positioning the country at the centre of international trade thus the need for investments that will reduce the over-reliance on international shipping lines but provisions to be made for last mile deliveries.
“For example, if cargo arrives at the Port of Mombasa we should have a mechanism where another shipping line can take it to Lamu, Dar es Salaam and other places of our choice,” he said.
“We are looking at the entire area of cabotage to ensure that we open up the business to more participants,” stated CS Mvurya when he opened the 5th multi-disciplinary conference and innovation week at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM).
To train and churn out competent maritime professionals the CS noted that the construction of the Sh1.5 billion Regional Maritime Institute is ongoing in Kwale County.
The CS pledged to facilitate funding opportunities to increase TUM’s capacity to offer specialized courses in maritime studies and to nurture a new generation of maritime professionals who will drive Kenya’s maritime agenda forward.
The CS further announced that they are working with Kenya Shipyards Limited to carry out ship repairs and maintenance in Mombasa to generate revenue and create employment.
“One ship can provide job opportunities for over 1000 people at a go to undertake maintenance works,” said CS Mvurya.
To increase investments in mining, CS Mvurya said they are focusing to increase data capacity because “Mining data is very scarce.”
The State Department for Mining has conducted a geological survey in all 47 counties, 970 minerals occurrences were observed.
“Ground truthing is ongoing in 24 counties, we have prioritised the strategic and critical minerals that are of high value,” said the CS.
To improve sampling and testing of minerals an Internationally Accredited Mineral Certification and Laboratory (IAMCL) is being established in Nairobi to carry out analysis and identification of minerals and rock samples.
Mvurya said government has approved the formation of a Mining Police Unit to deal with illegal mining across the country.
“In the next few years the mining frontier will be different because we are focusing more on value addition and mineral processing,” he stated, adding, that they have attracted investors to set up mineral processing factories.
In Elgeyo Marakwet a Sh4.8 billion fluorspar mining and processing project will be established, while paper works for the establishment of a Sh5.8 billion gold processing factory has been concluded and a granite processing factory will be set up in Vihiga to the tune of Sh2.5 billion
“We are continuing to map the country, we are now focusing on the copper belt from Makueni, Kitui, Tharaka Nithi and Tana River to see how we can inspire investments in that area,” said CS Mvurya.
By Sadik Hassan
