The Malawi Government has expressed optimism that the Country-wide High Resolution Airborne Geophysical Data will propel government plans of diversifying the economy.
Data obtained from the survey conducted between September 2013 and August 2014 which involved radiometric and gravity methods has been launched on Thursday in the capital city, Lilongwe.
Results from the survey, shows that there are mineral deposits across the country but Geological Survey Department is yet to interpret and conduct ground follow-up for the whole data set. However interested individuals and companies can still access the data and conduct their own interpretation and ground follow-ups based on their interest.
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| Hon Bright Msaka |
Speaking when launching the results, Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Hon. Bright Msaka, said the results from the survey are impressive enough to greatly improve the mining profile of Malawi.
He said this data is likely going to attract more investors and lead to stimulated mineral exploration.
The Minister then said from such intensive explorations, the country will start earning more revenue from the mining sector and possibly end the overdependence on Agriculture sector.
"Malawi's economy has been agro-based since independence, relying a lot on revenue from major cash crops, in particular tobacco. However, various factors including the global anti-smoking lobby, unpredictable and hostile climatic conditions among others, have heavily affected the agricultural sector and subsequently, the country's agrarian-dependent economy" noted the Minister when speaking on sidelines of heavy dependence of agriculture
To further enhance economic diversification and realize sustainable economic growth, Hon Msaka mentioned that Malawi also will implement number of reforms in the mining sector.
He among others said government will introduce number of initiatives including enactment of mining related Acts.
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| Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann |
In his remarks, European Union Head of Delegation to Malawi, Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann also noted that the new data marks beginning of development of mining sector as well as economic diversification and broadening of the resource base.
But he stressed that Malawi ought to be more transparent and properly manage resources generated from the sector including contracts and licenses to fully realize potential of the mining sector.
On other hand, Ambassador Gerrmann, hailed Malawi's interest to join Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) saying this is a right direction geared towards more transparency in mining sector.
On 6th November, 2013, Malawi launched the Country-wide High Resolution Airborne Geophysical Survey at a function held at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, kicking off a massive search for high value mineral deposits.
The search involved low flying aircrafts hovering over the whole country and the exercise was widely known as 'Kauniuni.
US$ 5.7 Million from World Bank Mining Governance and Growth Support Project (MGGSP) loan (amounting to US$ 25 million) was spent in acquiring the airborne data while, European Union co-financed the Project with a Grant amounting to 4.1 million Euros.
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