Ugandan miner banned from Kenya
Sep 08, 2008
KENYA has ordered a Ugandan mining company to stop extracting limestone in west Pokot district due to failure to set up a cement factory in the area.
By Winfred Kagwe
KENYA has ordered a Ugandan mining company to stop extracting limestone in west Pokot district due to failure to set up a cement factory in the area.
According to The Standard newspaper, the Ugandan investor, Kavee Quarries Company, has been extracting limestone at Ortum and ferrying it to Tororo, some 300km away, for processing into cement.
Kenya’s industrialisation minister, Henry Kosgey, announced the ban early this month as he assured residents the government was keen on having a cement factory established in the area soon.
“The company will be stopped from carrying out any mining activities until a serious investor is found to build a cement factory,†Kosgey said.
Kavee promised to build a cement factory 10 years ago, but it didn’t, angering residents who threatened to set its equipment ablaze.
“The government has received proposals from investors willing to construct the factory,†the minister said.
Reports from the ministry said Kavee would wind up operations by the end of the year and a new investor announced soon. The district has large deposits of high-grade limestone that can sustain a cement factory for over 50 years.
KENYA has ordered a Ugandan mining company to stop extracting limestone in west Pokot district due to failure to set up a cement factory in the area.
According to The Standard newspaper, the Ugandan investor, Kavee Quarries Company, has been extracting limestone at Ortum and ferrying it to Tororo, some 300km away, for processing into cement.
Kenya’s industrialisation minister, Henry Kosgey, announced the ban early this month as he assured residents the government was keen on having a cement factory established in the area soon.
“The company will be stopped from carrying out any mining activities until a serious investor is found to build a cement factory,†Kosgey said.
Kavee promised to build a cement factory 10 years ago, but it didn’t, angering residents who threatened to set its equipment ablaze.
“The government has received proposals from investors willing to construct the factory,†the minister said.
Reports from the ministry said Kavee would wind up operations by the end of the year and a new investor announced soon. The district has large deposits of high-grade limestone that can sustain a cement factory for over 50 years.