WHAT THE PP MANIFESTO SAYS ON MINING: The PEOPLE’S PARTY government recognizes that mining is increasingly becoming important in the country’s economic portfolio. Its contribution to GDP has risen from 3% to 10% over the last ten years. However, the PEOPLE’S PARTY believes that with a proper supportive infrastructure, mining’s contribution to GDP can be raised to 20% within the next five years. The PEOPLE’S PARTY government will therefore do the following to fully exploit the mining sector’s potential: • Fast-track the completion of the audit of the country’s potential mineral endowment that is currently underway through airborne geophysical exploration; • Fast track the completion of the revision of the 1981 Mines and Minerals Act, the 1983 Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, and the Explosives Act of 1968 to align them with the demands of 21st Century to ensure that the country fully benefits from its mineral resources; • Design a simple and unique mining fiscal regime which should be both stable and predictable over time; • Open at least one mine every two years. Immediate targets are the niobium deposit in Mzimba where a mine will open in 2015, the rare earths projects in Phalombe, Mulanje and Kangankunde in Balaka where mining will start from 2017, and the various coal deposits; • Establish means for auditing mining companies accounts to ensure accuracy of information provided for taxation purposes and the maximization of income from royalties; • Implement a capacity development programme on the basis of a comprehensive needs assessment and institutional audit exercise for the mining sector; • Encourage local and foreign ventures in the mining sector with the aim of empowering local entrepreneurs and maximizing the benefits of mining to the country; • Engage with different levels of the education system to develop relevant courses that will support the mining sector, particularly through research and development; • Construct state of the art geochemical laboratory that will ensure that all the necessary analyses are carried out in the country. 2014 is The Year of Possibilities. #JB MOMENT. ONE PRESIDENT AT A TIME!!!!!
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:33:17 +0000
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