BY INNOCENT KIIZA
The vice president of Uganda Rtd Maj. Jessica Alupo has assigned the ministry of energy and mineral development to save Government resource worthy millions of shillings which is being eroded into River Nyamwamba waters whenever it floods by calling upon capable investors to take over Kilembe mines for possible revamping.
The government of Uganda is losing millions of shillings in the tons of copper trailing that are being eroded into River Nyamwamba downstream.
River Nyamwamba which burst its banks in July this year, stretched westwards towards the piled copper tailings that were shipped for other purposes like cobalt are being eroded daily by River Nyamwamba.
Her Excellence Alupo task came after the State Minister of Mineral and Energy, Hon. Peter Lokaris said that some of the eroded materials are worth millions of money on the international market adding that Kilembe, besides being known for copper, also produces cobalt rich sulphate concentrates which are continued to be eroded in Nyamwamba waters.
Hon. Lokaris observed that the government should start rechanneling the River Nyamwamba before the whole piled copper remains goes whenever the river floods down wards.
However, Her Excellence Alupo said that Kilembe mines have 4.5 million tons of copper deposits which can be utilized to change the lives of Uganda and transform the country ‘s economy.
She observed that besides the million copper deposits, if more exploration can be done it is highly possible that more copper deposits can be gained.
In 2013, a consortium led by Tibet-Hima Mining Company Limited won the competitive bid to manage, rehabilitate Kilembe Mines Limited for 25 years until 2038 but the contract was terminated and dragged the government to courts of law demanding 33 million dollars’ compensation.
However, the Tibet- Hima Mining company did not perform to the government’s expectations and later breached the contract leading to the halt of the operation in 2017.
Now, to revamp the mine, Her Excellence Rtd. Maj. Jesca Alupo said the Cabinet has resolved that the government should look for a new investor to refurbish the mine so that it contributes to the country’s economy and addresses the recurrence of flash floods.
She was addressing district officials at Kilembe Golf Course in Katonzi cell in Bulembia Division that the government observed that a potential investor should be ready to extract the underground minerals and subsequently work on the flash floods.
Irene Batebe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development on a sideline interview after the event, told the journalists that her office has already worked on an application inviting interested firms.
She assured the public that the process is going to be fair for all interested firms.
The Vice President, Her Excellence Rtd. Maj. Jesca Alupo spent the whole of yesterday in field visits, where she visited Mubuku 1 Hydro-Power in Nyakalengijo, Kasese Cobalt Company Limited and finally stopped in Kilembe Mines.
