By Eddah Waithaka
Kenya and Indonesia enter into a strategic mining partnership aimed at improving the mining sector by collaborating on geology and infrastructure.
The partnership is a follow-up to the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in August last year during the Indonesian President’s state visit.
Salim Mvurya, Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, said the MoU covers mining, cooperation on geology, laboratory upgrading, testing and sampling and capacity building.
“As a Ministry, we have prioritised testing and sampling as a key area that is going to grow the mining sector in our country,” he said.
In addition, the CS noted that the country’s laboratories are not up to standard and that the collaboration will lead to the acquisition of technology, necessary experience and capacity building.
According to Mvurya, this will help to upgrade the Mining Laboratories to meet international standards.
“We have advertised to upgrade Madini house here in Nairobi and establish eight more laboratories in the region. The MoU will help us in achieving our dreams by having an ISO-certified laboratory here in Kenya,” Mvurya said.
He was speaking at a media briefing at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in Nairobi yesterday, where he was hosting government officials and mineral investors from Indonesia.
Rita Susilawati, Secretary Directorate Mineral and Coal of the Indonesian government, said her government was committed to working with the Kenyan government.
“Indonesia is committed to doing some work with Kenya in order to accelerate the mining sector growth and we believe we can help each other for future generations,” Susiwati said.
The meeting discussed the commencement of the implementation of the MoU and the establishment of an international standards testing and certification laboratory in Kenya.
“In geology, we are looking at the entire area of mapping and ground rooting and how we can share experiences and technologies so that we can benefit from experiences in Indonesia,” Mvurya.
Mvurya also announced that both countries would develop a framework to guide the implementation of the MoU, including an action plan with specific responsibilities for officials from both nations.
The aim of this structured approach is to highlight mining opportunities in Kenya and to stimulate the private sector in both countries.
The initiative promises to strengthen bilateral relations, promote technology exchange and sustainable development in the mining sector, and represents a significant step forward in Kenya’s economic diversification efforts.
Also Read:https://switchmedianews.wordpress.com/2024/02/16/soy-fujax-mining-company-injects-4-billion-kes-to-revive-flourspar-mining-in-elgeyo-marakwet-county/
