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East Africa also the land of

mining opportunities

On the big screen: Paydirt Media’s Jeff Hart was joined at DFAT offices in Canberra by African heads of mission Dr Joyce Kikafunda (Uganda),
Beryihun Temesgen (Ethiopia), Isaiya Kabira (Kenya) for a discussion on the investment climate in their countries

s Ugandans celebrated the country’s Kikafunda said. the need to implement modern frameworks
A58th anniversary of independence, the Uganda boasts a population of some 44 and policies to entice companies to look to-
country’s High Commissioner to Australia million people, with the country’s unemploy- wards Kenya as a preferred destination for
HE Dr Joyce Kikafunda encouraged more ment rate estimated at about 14%, while al- mining activities.
Australian mining companies to consider most 22% of people live below the poverty “We are fully aware that there is a lot of
the nation as a potential destination for in- line. competition for investors around the world.
vestment. The mining sector has been identified as So, we want to make Kenya a very competi-
Sipa Resources Ltd has led the Austral- a key part of the strategy to help transform tive mining investment destination. We are
ian contingent with the prospective Uganda the country’s poverty situation around. fully aware that we need to reduce the time
nickel-copper project, which until May was “Uganda has put in place policies and of exploration and discovery of minerals
subject to JV interest from Rio Tinto Ltd. legislation that creates a conducive envi- and then to show the true potential,” Kabira
Sipa retains 100% of the project which is ronment for international mining companies said.
currently on care-and-maintenance. to come and invest in the Ugandan mining “We want to ensure investors that we
Nevertheless, the presence of Sipa in sector; the country is safe and stable,” Ki- are fully aware that we need to reduce the
country and the interest shown by Rio Tinto kafunda said. turnaround time [for approvals].”
is indicative of the Government’s endeavor Kilembe – the historic high-grade copper Kenya has an ambitious target of increas-
to provide a platform conducive to attracting and cobalt mine shuttered in the 1980s – is ing mining’s contribution to total GDP from
mining investment. one area the Ugandan Government hopes 4% to 10% and Kabira said the Govern-
With more than 80% of the country sub- to generate some interest. ment had a system in place to achieve that
ject to geophysical surveying activities, “The Government intends to develop its objective.
Uganda’s potential to host economic cop- mineral resources in partnership with the “We feel we have created an enabling en-
per, gold, iron ore, lithium, tin, tungsten and private sector,” Kikafunda said. vironment to attract investors in this sector.
other valuable materials, was promoted by “The licensing system has been upgrad- We have a very business friendly environ-
Kikafunda at Africa Down Under. ed to allow online applications for mineral ment that guarantees investors get a good
Furthermore, frameworks are now in rights which was launched in 2019.” return,” Kabira said.
place to allow companies to help Uganda The ease of access for companies can “We want to work together with inves-
realise its mineral wealth. assess mining and exploration rights is an tors and local communities, so that people
“Uganda’s new mining and minerals pol- important development in Uganda, given in the local communities can feel part and
icy [2018] aims to increase investment and the level of competition for investor atten- parcel of the project.”
value addition in the minerals sector, so tion.
as to contribute significantly to the social, HE Isaiya Kabira, Kenya’s High Com- – Mark Andrews
economic transformation of the country,” missioner to Australia, said he understood

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