{"id":4342,"date":"2021-10-22T10:49:22","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T10:49:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandaupdatenews.com\/?p=4342"},"modified":"2021-10-22T10:49:26","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T10:49:26","slug":"uganda-government-through-ministry-of-energy-seeks-to-redevelop-defunct-kilembe-copper-mine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/uganda-government-through-ministry-of-energy-seeks-to-redevelop-defunct-kilembe-copper-mine\/","title":{"rendered":"UGANDA GOVERNMENT THROUGH MINISTRY OF ENERGY SEEKS TO REDEVELOP DEFUNCT KILEMBE COPPER MINE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By Our Reporters in Kilembe, Kasese<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Government of Uganda, following the directive of President Yoweri Museveni, is in a move to re-open the defunct Kilembe copper mine estimated to contain 4.5 million tons of ore. An investor will also be sought immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was announced by Vice President Maj (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, during her inspection of Kilembe Mines yesterday (Wednesday).\u00a0The Vice President also directed the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to immediately initiate a process to get an investor, \u201cTo come and take over the management and operationalization of Kilembe Mines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, within the shortest time possible, should advertise the Expression of Interest for an investor. Please let it be transparent. As Government we shall revamp  the infrastructure as the investor will  be handling the exploration and mining,\u201d the Vice President explained.\u00a0The Vice President also directed the Uganda National Roads Authority and the Ministry of Works and Transport, to expedite the reconstruction of Kyanjuki Bridge at Kilembe Mines; a bridge that connects the richest copper mine. This bridge will also help tourists to also easily reach the highest point of the Rwenzori Mountains\u2014 Mt. Stanley\u2019s Margherita Peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0\u201cThe Ministry of Water and Environment should also do their part, to tame the R. Nyamwamba; so that when the bridges are constructed, the river will be tamed enough to follow its original route and will not affect communities, or people crossing from one point to another.\u00a0She added, \u201cI will table a proposal before the President to get money and pay the people who work for Kilembe mines who are now working as volunteers to keep assets of the mines; who have not been receiving their payments, for a long time. We will propose to the President, to get money and pay those arrears.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are seven staff in top management and 131 other employees, supported by a seven-member Board of Directors, whose salaries and allowances have accumulated to about sh2bn.\u00a0\u201cGovernment will reconstruct Kilembe Hospital because we know it has been serving several people, who still need help, as well as other schools which were razed down by River Nyamwamba. There are plans, to get funds and revive all those schools which were washed away by the floods,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A total of 10 secondary and primary schools were razed down by River Nyamwamba last year, and Government is in the process of having them reconstructed.\u00a0The mine, during 1956 to mid-1960s is reported to have been vibrant and it accounted for up to 30 per cent of Uganda\u2019s foreign export earnings. It was the country\u2019s third-highest export-earning venture, coming only after coffee and cotton.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once a major producer of copper and cobalt, Kilembe was abandoned by Canadian firm Falconbridge in the 1970s when Uganda\u2019s economy stagnated. The mine started making losses in the 1970s due to lack of recapitalization, rampant inflation, and the global collapse of copper prices at the time, which drove away foreign investors.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The government became the major shareholder in 1975 and copper production ceased in 1982; when it was no longer economically viable.\u00a0Previous government efforts to revive the mine, near Uganda\u2019s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo; between 1983 to 2006 had not yet yielded.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Kilembe Mines has great potential. There are proven reserves of ore estimated to be 1.77 per cent pure copper and 0.17 per cent cobalt, according to Uganda\u2019s Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines.\u00a0More so, an estimated 5.5 million tons at an average grade of 0,171 per cent copper and 0.114 cobalt were left above ground in dams as tailings despite being partly eroded by the recent River Nyamwamba floodwaters. When protected, these tailings are expected to supplement metal recoveries and enhance cash flow when Kilembe Mines resume.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on this, the Government, according to\u00a0 Maj. (Rtd) Alupo, is now determined to redevelop the Kilembe Mine, which sits on the foothills of the Rwenzori mountains.\u00a0The Vice President was accompanied by the State Minister for Minerals, Peter Lokeris; the State Minister in the Vice President\u2019s Office, Diana Mutasingwa; the State Minister for National Guidance, Godfrey Kabyanga; and the State Minister for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Harriet Ntabazi.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The team also included the Principal Private Secretary in the Office of the Vice President, Alex Kakooza; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Irene Bateebe; the UNRA Executive Director, Allen Kagina; the Director General of Uganda Investment Authority, Robert Mukiza; and the Engineer in Chief in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Sam Bagonza.\u00a0Also present were the Members of Parliament from the Kasese District; including Kambale Ferigo and Kitanywa Sowedi; and several Kasese district leaders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Our Reporters in Kilembe, Kasese The Government of Uganda, following the directive of President Yoweri Museveni, is in a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4343,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[24,168],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4342","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-national-development"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20211022-WA0078.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3772,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/state-minister-for-enery-and-mineral-development-ecweru-advises-ministry-of-finance-to-hand-over-kilembe-mines-and-power-scheme-to-energy-ministry-for-effective-management\/","url_meta":{"origin":4342,"position":0},"title":"STATE MINISTER FOR ENERY AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENT ECWERU  ADVISES MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO HAND OVER KILEMBE MINES AND POWER SCHEME TO ENERGY MINISTRY FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"August 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By Patrick Kabura The State Minister for Works and Transport Hon. Francis Musa Ecweru has advised the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to handover Kilembe mines and Kilembe Hydroelectric power scheme to the \u00a0Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) for better management. Hon. Ecweru while addressing the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National Development&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National Development","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-development\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2021-07-31-at-14.52.58-780x470-1.jpeg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2021-07-31-at-14.52.58-780x470-1.jpeg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2021-07-31-at-14.52.58-780x470-1.jpeg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2021-07-31-at-14.52.58-780x470-1.jpeg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4211,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/uganda-set-to-reduce-value-of-imported-iron-and-steel-from-usd-360m-to-usd-96m\/","url_meta":{"origin":4342,"position":1},"title":"UGANDA SET TO REDUCE VALUE OF IMPORTED IRON AND STEEL FROM USD 360M to USD 96M","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"October 6, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Uganda is \u00a0set\u00a0 to reduce value of imported iron and steel from USD 360 million to USD 96M by 2025 in concerted effort to add value to the country vast mineral resources , Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development , Permanent Secretary Eng. Irene Bateebe ,has said . While addressing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National Development&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National Development","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-development\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/download-1.jpg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6896,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/how-is-uganda-positioned-for-green-energy\/","url_meta":{"origin":4342,"position":2},"title":"HOW IS UGANDA POSITIONED FOR GREEN ENERGY?","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"October 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u2022The Minerals Development Programme: - \u2022To increase mineral exploitation and value addition in selected resources for quality and gainful jobs in industrialization; \u2022Expected to result in: \u2022Reduced volume & value of imported iron and steel and organic fertilizers; \u2022Increased volume & value of refined gold and copper exports; \u2022Increased investment\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Energy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Energy","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/energy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture1.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture1.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture1.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture1.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture1.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3775,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/manufacturers-will-be-allowed-to-purchase-electricity-direct-from-transmission-companies-to-reduce-power-tarrifs-minister-nankabirwa\/","url_meta":{"origin":4342,"position":3},"title":"MANUFACTURERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE ELECTRICITY DIRECT FROM TRANSMISSION COMPANIES TO REDUCE POWER TARRIFS -MINISTER NANKABIRWA","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"August 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By Patrick Kabura The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development will allow t manufacturers\u00a0 \u00a0\/ industries in Uganda to purchase electricity directly from transmission companies to make power more \u00a0affordable for Ugandans. \u201cMy Ministry is spear heading the amendment of the Electricity Act 1999 to provide for purchase of electricity\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Energy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Energy","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/energy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Power1.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Power1.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Power1.jpg 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4410,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/local-miners-vacate-kisiita-gold-mines-as-november-3rd-presidential-directive-deadline-draws-near\/","url_meta":{"origin":4342,"position":4},"title":"LOCAL MINERS VACATE KISIITA GOLD MINES AS NOVEMBER 3rd PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE DEADLINE DRAWS NEAR","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"October 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"INVESTIGATION By Our Reporters As the November 3rd, 20021 deadline given by President Yoweri Museveni draws near ,thousands of\u00a0 artisanal miners have peacefully \u00a0vacated the Kisiita gold mining site in \u00a0Kassanda District to allow the government selected investor, Kisiita Mining Company Ltd take over the mine. Early\u00a0this year\u00a0 President Yoweri\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National Development&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National Development","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-development\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/img-612e3cdc1ce43.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/img-612e3cdc1ce43.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/img-612e3cdc1ce43.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/img-612e3cdc1ce43.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5826,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/ministry-of-energy-achievements-as-ugandans-celebrate-36-years-of-nrm-in-power\/","url_meta":{"origin":4342,"position":5},"title":"MINISTRY OF ENERGY ACHIEVEMENTS AS UGANDANS CELEBRATE 36 YEARS OF NRM IN POWER","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"June 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"JANUARY 26,2022 - MINISRY OF ENEGRY SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT Celebrations to mark 36 years since NRM took power will be held under strict Covid-19 SOPs, the minister of state for Economic Monitoring, Peter Ogwang has revealed while the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development is showcasing its achievements over the years\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National Development&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National Development","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-development\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/General-Yoweri-Kaguta-Museveni-680x380-1.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/General-Yoweri-Kaguta-Museveni-680x380-1.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/General-Yoweri-Kaguta-Museveni-680x380-1.jpg 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-182","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4342"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4342\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4344,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4342\/revisions\/4344"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}