Africa to standardise mining policies

PLANS are underway to standardise mining policies in Africa to enable countries fully reap from their mineral resources, Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development Christopher Yaluma said.
Mr Yaluma said African countries are expected to form an alliance that will standardise the mining system to deter some companies from exploiting mineral-rich nations.
“Zambia, like many other countries, has not maximised benefits from the mineral resource. We have come together to look into ways of ensuring that the same mining standards are applied everywhere so that, if say, Zambia turns down a mining prospector, [the investor] will not go to Zimbabwe or Angola because the standards will be the same,” he said.
Mr Yaluma said in an interview recently that the development will enable citizens benefit from mineral wealth because mining companies will abide by the set standards.
He said Government remains committed to putting in place measures that will ensure a win-win situation for mining firms and citizens.
“Local content should be at play where investors use locally manufactured equipment and engage locals as suppliers of goods and services,” he said.
Mr Yaluma said the recently revised mineral resources development policy will go a long way in increasing participation of Zambians in the mining sector.
The mineral resources development policy, which replaced the 1995 mining policy, will increase participation of Zambians in the sector as mine owners, suppliers and employees.
He said the mineral resources development policy will re-orient the sector to create a competitive, thriving and sustainable industry that will benefit both the investors and people of Zambia.

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