GEOG 323: Regional Geography of Africa with special reference to East Africa

Mineral and Energy Resources

Types of Mineral and Energy Resources

East Africa is endowed with a variety of minerals and energy resources and widely distributed
throughout the region. The distribution is determined by the geological formations. But not all
of these resources have been exploited as a result of several factors. Exploitation is influenced by
the size of the deposits, accessibility and political considerations.
Copper: Is one of the most important world industrial minerals and Africa is an important
producer. Uganda is a major producer of copper in East Africa. The mine is located at Kilembe,
in a narrow valley among the lower eastern slopes of the Ruwenzori Mountain. The ore is
extracted from both surface and underground workings on each sides of the valley, and is treated
in a crushing and floatation plant on site. The concrete produced is railed to a smelter at Jinja
from where the blister copper is sent to Mombasa for export. Jinja was selected as the site for
smelter because the town is near the Owen Falls dam (and source of power). Although copper
was first reported at Kilembe in 1908, the deposit was not brought into production until 1956 on
completion of the railway line. The Kilembe mine ceased its production in 1982 and has since
been on care and maintenance.
Copper is also mined in southern Nyanza Province in Kenya where there is abundant local labour
and power supply at Gogo Falls. Copper is mainly used for electrical conductors.
Diamond: Diamond is very valuable in East Africa and mining is by open-cast methods. Both
gems stones and individual stones are produced. The main deposits are found around Williamson
mine at Mwadui in Shinyanga Region of Tanzania. Diamond production has recently boomed at
the Williamson Mine following major rehabilitation of its treatment plant. Diamond production
has increased by 471 percent in nine months from July 2012-March 2013
(http://allafrica.com/stories/201305090873.html)
Gold: Gold is widely distributed in East Africa but the scale of mining is much smaller than
diamond and copper. The extractive operations are concentrated in Tanzania and the three largest
mines are located south of Lake Victoria. Tanzania is Africas 4th largest gold producer and an
important export earner for the country. The Sekenke Gold Mine was the first in Tanzania in
1908. Gold production experienced a boom between 1930 and WW2. In the late 1960s, gold
production dropped but revived from mid-1970s. From the 1990s, a number of foreign mining
companies have invested in the exploration and development of gold deposits in Tanzania.
Lake Victoria Mining Company, Inc. is a gold exploration company focused on acquiring,
exploring and developing gold mines in Africas world famous Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt in
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Tanzania. In Kenya, gold is restricted to the westernmost part of the country. Some deposits are
found around Kakamega in Kenya and at Busia. Gold mining in Kenya has been by artisanal
mining method and the first gold mine in Kenya (Kilimapesaa Gold mine) had its production in
January 2012.
Gold is also widely distributed in Uganda but has been worked in only a few areas. Only few of
the gold produced is from reefs (hard rock), most of the gold is recovered from alluvial material
and by small producers (licensed miners and artisans).
Soda Ash and Salt: Soda Ash is a valuable mineral in Kenya and the deposit lies on the edge of
Lake Magadi. The deposit is continuously replenished by saline springs and unlike most
minerals, it is not a wasting asset unless the sources dry up. Labour is obtained without
difficulty, a diesel generator initially supplied power to the plant, and a branch railway provides
adequate transport facilities. Lake Magadi is known to be the largest manufacturer of soda ash in
Africa. The Magadi Soda Company was founded in 1911. Soda Ash is transported by rail to
Mombasa for onward shipping. Lake Magadi also provides Kenya with common salt and some
are worked at Malindi. In Tanzania salt is produced from the brine springs at Uvinza and Uganda
also produces salt.
Coal and Iron Ore: A significant amount of these minerals are known to be deposited in southwestern Tanzania. But due to its remoteness, it has not been fully exploited. The principal use of
iron ore is in making of steel.
Beryl: Widespread in East Africa but scattered and makes production very difficult. It is mined
on small-scale in south-west Uganda, esp. from Mutaka in Bushenyi District. Beryl is mainly
used in making light weight metal alloys for aircraft and in nuclear reactors. The coloured
(green) variety as emerald is a precious stone, but yet to be discovered in Uganda.

Energy Resources
There are different energy sources in East Africa but most have not been fully exploited.
Biomass: Biomass contributes about 90% of the total energy consumed in most of the Eastern
African countries. e.g. charcoal, firewood. It provides almost all the energy used to meet basic
energy needs for cooking and water heating in rural and most urban households. But also used in
services/commercial and industrial sectors. Biomass is also the main source of energy for rural
industries. Theres increasing usage of biomass as a result of rising prices of petroleum products,
inadequate and inefficient power supply systems and a poor transmission and distribution
infrastructure.
Hydropower: Africa generally has the lowest consumption in the world. As of 2007, less than
10% of its potential has been developed in Eastern Africa.The largest share of Kenyas
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electricity supply comes from hydroelectric stations at dams along the Upper Tana River and the
Turkwel Dam in the west.
Solar Energy: Several strategies have been put in place by government to promote solar energy,
especially for rural electrification but the main barriers to the use of solar energy include: high
cost of solar energy technologies and lack of purchasing power of the population.

Geothermal power: Geothermal energy potential exists in the lake county and mountain regions
- derived from the warm springs and geysers in the Kenya highlands and Rift Valley. With the
support of Chinese, geothermal resources provide about a fifth of the energy produced in Kenya.
In Kenyas least cost Power Development Plan, geothermal power has been identified as a cost
effective power option and the Geothermal Development Company has been set up to fast track
the process of harnessing this resource.
Petroleum Oil: Oil exploitation is a very recent as its easily imported from the Middle east.
Generally, exploitation of petroleum oil and natural gas along the coast and inland Kenya and
Tanzania has not been too successful. As of 2007, there were four prospective petroleum basins
in Kenya and about 30 exploration wells had been drilled. Even though none has encountered a
commercial discovery, a number of drill stems tests have recovered or tested gas. In 2012,
significant oil reserves were discovered in North western Kenya but studies are still being carried
out to establish its economic feasibility.
Wind Energy: Wind energy has also not been exploited much in most of the Eastern African
countries due to: site selection dynamics in some countries like Kenya and inadequate resource
information in other countries. But efforts are being made to promote it e.g. two manufacturers
have pioneered the local manufacturer of wind pumps and wind generators in Kenya and
providing local energy solutions for off grid households and institutions.
Kenya has recently experienced a surge in wind energy installation for electricity generation. The
largest wind farm in Africa is being constructed in Turkana area of north western Kenya.
Another has been installed in the Ngong hills area, close to Nairobi.

Importance of Mineral and Energy Resources

Facilitated the setting up of several industries. There are several mining industries e.g.
Lake Victoria Mining Company. The mining sector is one of the new pacemakers for
growth of the Tanzanian economy. There has been an increase in its contribution to GDP
from 0.8% in 1987 to 2.3% in 2000 and expected to increase to 10% as investments
increases.

Limestone deposits in Kenya has facilitated cement production e.g. National Cement
Company Ltd., East African Portland Cement Co. Ltd, Mombasa Cement Ltd. This is the
2nd largest cement plant in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Source of power - production of electricity
Employment opportunities livelihoods e.g. rural employment-small-scale mining
activities
Source of income and foreign exchange.

Constraints and Challenges

Limited exploitation of the mineral resources such as coal and iron ore
Financial resources to upgrade and expand energy infrastructure
Lack of local market for certain minerals and cost of transport to exporting ports
Promotion of energy efficiency and conservation
Protection and the environment
Governance issues
Poor / fluctuating world prices

Reference

https://energypedia.info/wiki/East_Africa:_Overview_of_Regional_Energy_Resources

http://books.google.com.gh/books?id=vBcBCqsBgQC&pg=PR4&lpg=PR4&dq=energy+
resources+in+east+africa+opportunities+and+challenges&source=bl&