AMN - South Sudan seeks mining industry reforms – comment by Yolanda Torrisi

South Sudan government intends to embark on sweeping mining industry reforms in an attempt to ensure sustainable exploitation of natural resources and enhance environmental protection. The Ministry of Mining says it finds it difficult to control and regulate the activities of many mining companies operating in the fledgling country.

Chinese news agency Xinhua reported the Minister of Mining Gabriel Thokuj Deng as saying during a workshop on extractive industry sustainability that most large and small scale mining companies operating in the nation were not complying with the laws of the country.

He said the government was seeking to amend the Mining Act of 2012 to enable it have greater control over the activities of mining companies. The reforms were important in diversifying the economy of the oil-dependent nation through harnessing and supporting the extractive industry.

"You (miners) comply with the laws; you are our brothers and our friend. You don't comply, I don't want to use the word kick out, but you are not part of us and we will revoke your licence. Actually I'm quick to do this according to the laws," Xinhua reported Thokuj as saying. "Let us not be driven again by selfishness and greed."

Among the changes mooted by the Minister were abolition of the policy of allocating 2500 square kilometres of land as a concession agreement to investors for mining purposes. He said a new policy that encouraged competition and quality would be developed.

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) states that more than 90 per cent of South Sudan's population depend on natural resources, but it has repeatedly warned that the lack of environmental legislations and policies threatens future exploitation of the abundant natural resources.

UNEP Country Manager in South Sudan Asrad Khan said the extractive industry was important for development of the country because it could help in diversifying the economy if harnessed, but unfortunately the country's resources were being threatened by human-induced pressure. He urged the government to ensure the resources were exploited wisely and sustainably both for the present and the future.

He also pledged UNEP's commitment to continue to engage with the mining industry to help in reducing pollution, and leveraging innovation and emerging technology to support the sector's contribution to sustainable development.

"Unfortunately, the natural resources and environment in South Sudan are increasingly under pressure as in some parts of the country, environmental degradation and depletion is taking place and the country faces a number of environmental challenges from pollution of water bodies, pollution of land and soil, wastes, loss of biodiversity, deforestation and most importantly climate change," Xinhua quotes Khan.

Yolanda Torrisi is Chairperson of The African Mining Network and comments on African mining issues and the growing global interest in the continent. Contact:yolanda@yolandatorrisi.com