Mining secretary Dan kazungu. [Photo/Standard]In the past two months, the mining ministry has raised the alarm over increased smuggling of minerals.Mining Secretary General, Dan Kazungu said most cases involved undocumented exports and imports.
Illegal business is done through the Mombasa port and other exit channels.He said the illegal business hurts the sector and the general investment pipeline.Mr Kazungu spoke at the port on Friday after a meeting with the facility stakeholders.The port is said to be the favored gateway by the traders. Mr Kazungu said, “We want to ensure that mineral exports and imports are not done illegally. We are very serious about this because the port of Mombasa is the gateway to East and Central Africa”.Among the minerals that dominate the illicit business is bulk manganese, copper, iron, titanium, and gold.Increased smuggling, the minister said, posed the danger of watering down the value of the country’s exports.He emphasized, “Once those involved in this business get the licenses, the relevant authorities will have the chance of ensuring whatever is exported is based on the right testing so that there is no undervaluation of our minerals that are shipped to other countries”.