East Africa: Bid for an EA Regional Mining Umbrella Afoot – by Deus Ngowi (All Africa.com – June 7, 2017)

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Arusha — Tanzania grapples with challenges related to mining, the issue covers the broader East African region, as a bill in regard to the sector is now in the hands of the sector’s committee at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

The EAC Mining Bill that was moved by Mr Chris Opoka- Okumu (Uganda) hopes to provide a legal framework for the regulation of mining operations in the East African Community (EAC). It seeks to implement the EAC Vision 2050 and specifically to operationalise Article 114(2) (c ) (iv) of the EAC Treaty that calls for harmonisation of mining regulations to ensure environmentally friendly and sound mining practices.

The Bill further provides for a transparent and accountable mechanism for reporting mining and mineral related activities in the region. It is aimed at ultimately reducing differences in the operating environment for the sector. It sailed through after the first reading and sent to a committee for necessary actions.

It is apparent that by seeking to harmonize mineral and mining laws and policies, stems from acknowledgement of the great potential that mineral resources have in contributing to poverty alleviation and to national and regional economic development.

This comes at a time when the mineral-rate eastern African country is attracting foreign explorers. The region is considered to have a great potential of minerals, ranging from oil, natural gas, titanium, and gold, among others.

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