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Industrial Plant Engineering

01/05/2012 01:00:56 AM EST -- AllAfrica

Sh10 Billion Niobium Mining Project Set to Roll Out in Kwale

RESIDENTS of Kaya Mrima in Kwale county have agreed to allow a proposed Sh10 billion mining project to start in the area. Mrima community leader Jumadari Riko said the residents who had refused the project have changed their stance after the mining firm promised to consider their grievances.

"Our fears ranged from destruction of Kaya Mrima forest, our traditional worship shrine, to perceived radioactive emissions but the firm has agreed to address them apart from building us a dispensary and school," Riko said.The county that boasts of titanium is endowed with massive deposits of niobium, according to prospectors.

Speaking in Kaya Mrima at the weekend, Cortec Mining Company Chief Executive Officer, David Anderson, said the firm is ready to set up the niobium processing plant in the area once they are issued with a mining license by the government. "The project is set to benefit the area and turn around the economic fortunes as it will see creation of jobs for over 300 residents.

It will also help set up social amenities for the locals," he said. He said should the state issue them with a license they would do the mining 50 metres away from Kaya Mrima to avoid destroying. He said they have consulted with the villagers who have been pushing for the conserving of the shrine.

Apart from titanium and niobium in areas of Maumba/Nguluku, Dzombo and Kiruku there are traces of Zinc and Manganese according to prospectors who say can generate revenue to the state once exploitation starts. The government issued a mining license to Tiomin Kenya that later sold mining rights to Base titanium to facilitate mining works that are already in progress at Maumba/Nguluku.

Copyright Nairobi Star. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).