This archive report was first published on 13 July 2021.
On July 13, 2021, the Petroleum and Mining ministry in Kenya granted Base Titanium a one-year extension to its operations under a new licence, allowing the company to continue mining in the country beyond its current mine life.
Base Titanium, which has been mining titanium ores in Kenya since 2013, currently has only about fifteen months of mine life left at its current licensed area, with operations expected to cease in October 2022.
The company has been seeking to extend its operations, and the new licence will give it close to 12 months of additional mining time, according to General Manager External Affairs, Simon Wall, who stated, 'Our current reserves will be mined and depleted by October 2022. We have previously had several outstanding issues that have been resolved and paved the way for the license, which will give us close to 12 months of mining.'
Base Titanium's operations are crucial to the Kenyan economy, with the company accounting for 88.7% of total sector revenue. According to the Mining ministry, the company has generated a total of KSh23 billion in government revenues over its current mine life, with an annual expenditure of KSh3.7 billion on purchases from Kenyan businesses.
The company has also applied for three prospecting licenses for the Ramisi area in Msambweni, the Kuranzi area near the Kwale-Taita Taveta Counties border, and the Lamu area.
