Ministry of mines launches $98 million countrywide rocks and minerals survey

The Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development says it has embarked on a US$98 million 18-month rocks and minerals survey in Zambia, prioritising Western Province.

Director of Geological Survey, Gerald Mwila, explained that the survey was being carried out using aircraft by a South Africa-based company, Excalibur Multi-Physics, the government engaged for the work.

Mwila disclosed this during the ministry’s sensitisation meeting in Mongu at the Weekend which focus area was to orient heads of departments on its operations.

“The ministry has zoned the country according to priority areas and deliberately started with Western Province because of inadequate knowledge of the minerals in the region hence an interest in finding out what is there,” he said in a statement issued in Lusa.

Mwila noted that the ministry had carried out a lot of mineral surveys and was also renewing its mineral areas inventory.

The ministry, he said, also wanted to acquire data to efficiently advise the Provincial Administration and the Barotse Royal Establishment on what is pertaining on the ground in the region.

“We want after gathering data of the mineral situation in the country to be able to advise prospective miners who would want to carry out mineral exploration in the country,” Mwila said.

Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Richard Mulwanda, said his office appreciated the message that the ministry brought, as they needed to be aware so that both parties would move in tandem.

Mulwanda said he was optimistic that a lot would come out of the mineral survey and wanted to see how best the outcome could be utilised to benefit the Province.

“I am sure that something will come out of the survey and I want to see how best we shall utilise what will come out of the survey,” he said.

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