The Government of South Sudan is set to embark on large-scale mapping across the country in a bid to help identify the locations and size of new mineral deposits.
Speaking in Juba on Monday during the reception of Dr. Matiok Santino Akuei, the new undersecretary, Mining Minister Martin Gama Abucha said in-depth geological surveys will help in providing information about the country’s diverse mineral resources.
“In the morning, I had to go to the Ministry of Finance, because one of the most important works of this ministry is a geological survey. We must map our resources so that we understand what we have and know what quantities we have so that we know where they occur,” he said. “So that is one of the things we want to do. We are going to make a geological survey and that is why I was in the Ministry of Finance.”
The minister stressed the need to develop maps and other data to assist government agencies, mining companies, and the public in recognizing, developing, and protecting important mineral resources.
For his part, Dr. Akuei, the new undersecretary of the mining ministry, said the country’s untapped mineral wealth will boost economic growth.
“Today, we must plant the seed of investment and that will bear fruit for future generations. South Sudan is endowed with vast mineral resources, which include gold, copper, zinc, lead, rare earth minerals, uranium, organics, irons, diamonds, and precious minerals,” he said. “However, the potential of this sector remains largely untapped and this is the major challenge for our country and the economy.”
On 20 February, President Salva Kiir fired Dr. Coasmas Pitia as undersecretary of the Ministry of Mining and replaced him with Dr. Matiok Santino Akuei.