Malawi is optimistic that its recent launch of Geological Mapping and Mineral Assessment Project (GEMMAP) will open up way for potential investors to come in the country to start serious mining business.
The launch of GEMMAP follows the 2015 launch of the High Resolution Airborne Survey Data that has pinpointed areas with high mineral potential. GEMMAP will among several issues, conduct ground follow ups of the anomalies interpreted in the High Resolution Airborne Survey Data and the investigations will include to identification of the type of rocks, the minerals hosted by the rocks, the quality and the quantities of the minerals in the ground.
Hon. Bright Msaka, Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining said GEMMAP is type of data that will assist to guide investors in making informed decisions in the selection of exploration targets.
“This is going to tell us what is there, how much of it is there and of what quality is there.” Said Msaka
Then explained; “And that is extremely important for an investor to make decision to come to Malawi. Because, any investors would not come to Malawi to investigate whether there is mineral of what quality and of what size, they don’t want to spend their money on that kind of work. But when we say to investors, we have a deposit of such and such mineral of such and such size and quality, then the decisions are easy to make in the boardroom of the investors.”
Msaka noted that the knowledge of the mineral potential of Malawi is also relevant when his Ministry is awarding exploration and mining licenses. He said when negotiating mining development agreements with investors, through GEMMAP, the Ministry shall have prior knowledge of the mineral resources available other than just depending on what the investors are reporting.
"In addition, you may be aware that Malawi is prone to geohazards such as earthquakes, landslides, rockfalls and flooding. GEMMAP shall conduct natural risk mapping of the country. This information is significant in the implementation of the country’s development plans and natural risk prevention and mitigation measures.” added Msaka who assured that Malawi is firmly and seriously on the road of making the country a serious mining country.
The GEMMAP project will run a period of 4.5 years and the French Government has provided a 10.2 million Euro grant to the Government of Malawi for the Project. The Consortium of Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières or Geological Survey of France (BRGM), Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) and Council for Geosciences of South Africa (CGS), have been awarded the contract to work with the Malawi Geological Survey in implementing the GEMMAP.
Malawi is on steady journey towards mineral exploration and this initiative is in line with the country’s drive to diversify the economy, which is also in keeping with the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS II) which identify Mineral sector as one of the key priority areas that can foster sustainable economic growth.
The objective of GEMMAP project is to support the economic development in Malawi through growth and diversification of its mineral resources sector, through updated geological map coverage and an inventory of the country’s mineral potential at sufficiently detailed scale (1/100 000).
It is expected that GEMMAP shall also improve the delivery of quality services to the mining sector and the general public.
The project will build capacity through training of staff, acquisition of mapping and exploration equipment, modernizing Geological Survey Department laboratories so that most of the mineral analyses are done within the country. The geological data generated is significant not only to mining, but also to designing of infrastructure, ground water exploration, land use planning and general research in various fields.
The project will include; a geochemical survey of river and stream sediments, natural hazard mapping, the assessment of mineral potential, the assessment of small scale mining sector, building of database and GIS and, targeted capacity building and training measures.
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