Mining has to resume at Kayelekera for the benefit of Malawians

It does not require research to tell that employment opportunities in Malawi are limited with a great number of the population involved in small scale agriculture mainly at a subsistence level.

More worrying is that the unemployed include graduates from the country’s tertiary institutions including those with high qualifications in mining related courses such as mining engineering, geology, geological engineering and metallurgical engineering.

As reported in our lead article, some of these graduates in mining related courses have knocked at our door inquiring on how they can get employment opportunities at Kayelekera Uranium Mine in Karonga, which is currently on care and maintenance.

More so, there are some business persons looking for supply and service contracts at the mine, which would be created when production resumes.

Members of the community around the mine are also eagerly waiting for the signing of a Community Development Agreement (CDA), which will result in the mining company, ASX-listed Lotus Resources, implementing community development projects proposed by the local community.

As reported in the article, Malawi is also expected to benefit from Kayelekera through revenues accrued from Royalties, and other Taxes including Corporate Tax, Pay as You Earn, Resource Rent fees and dividends on shares through the 10% free equity arrangement stipulated in the new Mines and Minerals Act.

With all these benefits to be unlocked when the mine reopens, we call upon the authorities to expedite the process to resume mining at Kayelekera including finalisation of the Mine Development Agreement (MDA)

As the Coordinator for Malawi Chamber of Mines and Energy is quoted in the article, it is imperative for Malawians to look at the long-term gains the mining sector brings such as continued flow of revenue (local and forex) for long periods, infrastructure development, creation of employment, the birth of satellite urban centres, promotion of local content, skills development, and emergence of opportunities for markets of goods and services in agriculture (commercial farming to feed the sector).

Negativity on mining projects will do the country more harm than good as other countries in the region and globally are benefitting from mining projects being executed by the same multinationals with Paladin Energy, which operated Kayelekera, having resumed production at Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine in Namibia.

It is high time Malawi started reaping benefits from its minerals for sustainable development other than continuing to talk of unexploited mineral potential.

One thought on “Mining has to resume at Kayelekera for the benefit of Malawians

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