New Kush Exploration & Mining (NKEM) and the state government of Eastern Equatoria have begun the first gold mining exploration in three counties of Kapoeta region, South Sudan
Anthony Viljoen, director of NKEM said, ”We have been granted a license of operation to undertake gold mining and exploration in the state by the central government in Juba. New Kush has conducted wide-ranging consultations with leaders in the counties of Kapoeta North, South and East.”
According to a government survey, Eastern Equatoria has great potential for mining of various minerals. Tutus Lokwacuma, the commissioner of Kapoeta East county, encouraged the exploration, saying gold mining could create employment opportunities for locals and help develop the region east of the state of Equatoria.
Viljoen added that his company had several mining equipment items at Mombasa in Kenya, which are ready to be transported to South Sudan.
”We hope our company will be able to extract large amounts of quality gold and reduce the amounts that are smuggled out of South Sudan without being taxed,” he said.
According to industry sources, South Sudan has been engaged in a dispute with Sudan over the transport of oil to international markets and there has been a year-long halt in production. Since then, the northeastern African nation has been trying to recover from the shutdown and looking at alternative sources of revenue.
