02 March 2014, Nairobi – Plans are underway to make Kenya’s Taita Taveta University College the first ever model institution for mining in the country, Mining Secretary Najib Balala has said. Addressing students at the institution on Monday, Balala said his ministry and the university will form a technical team to spearhead the process.
Balala said Kenya will carry out an airborne survey of its minerals and come up with a geo data centre to help market the mineral resources in the international markets. Balala said that the government will give priority in the setting up of a mineral smelting plant in the County.
“We want the cost of electricity in Kenya to reduce by 40 per cent by the year 2016.The reduction will spur industrialisation in the country,” revealed Balala. He challenged the Taita Taveta County government to work closely with Kitui County government so that they can tap into the coal mining so that it can assist in providing energy for the smelting plant that will be set up in Taita Taveta.
– The Star
