Consequences of Zircon Ban

Following the discovery of massive malpractices in Zircon sand mining in especially Shenge, Tisana and Mobureh in Moyamba District where the West African Zircon Mining Company was involved in rampant illicit mining, buying, and exporting of Zircon sand, the National Mining Agency (NMA) recently put a moratorium on the mining, selling, buying and exporting of Zircon sand until the situation is regularized.

By placing the temporal ban, the NMA did well and must be commended although the ban has dire economic consequences on this nation. Even though some recalcitrant illicit miners have been jumping the ban by mining and selling the sand surreptitiously, the moratorium went a long way in checking the rampant illegal mining, selling, buying and exporting of the Zircon sand.

However, we are calling on the NMA to regularize the mining of Zircon and lift the temporal ban as soon as possible for the economic benefit of this country. We are making this call because we believe that the longer the ban stands, the more this state will stand to lose economically. Proceeds derived from the mining and exporting of Zircon sand can contribute to the economic development of this nation.

Those companies who go through the right procedure by genuinely obtaining their mining and exporting licenses must be allowed to start operating as soon as possible for the state to benefit from the royalties they will be paying. Of what use will the Zircon sand be to the state if it is not licitly mined and exported?

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