This archive report was first published on 23 December 2019.
On 13 December, a gazette notice revealed that 26 mining companies had failed to renew their mining licenses under the Mining Act of 2016, leading to their suspension by Petroleum and Mining CS John Munyes.
The suspension is aimed at streamlining operations in the mining sector, which has been plagued by regulatory non-compliance.
According to the ministry, all the revoked mining licenses were exploration permits issued under the former Mining Act 306. Mining and exploration companies were required to reapply for exploration licenses after the enactment of the Mining Act of 2016.
Ministry of Petroleum and Mining Principal Secretary John Omenge noted that all the licenses revoked under the gazette notice were exploration or prospecting licenses issued under the repealed mining Act Cap 306.
Companies involved in the mining of non-precious minerals, gemstones, and gypsum in Kwale, Tana River, and Turkana counties suffered the most. The companies' licenses expired between 2011 and 2017.
Some of the companies that lost their licenses include Nazareth Explorations Limited, Turksgate Enterprises Limited, Amka Ventures Limited, and Munster Mining and Exploration Limited.
