By Philip Buda Ladu
South Sudan council of ministers has approved the formation of a high-level steering committee that would spearhead the establishment of a gold refinery and mineral trading centres across the country.
This came after the Minister of Mining, Hon. Martin Gama Abucha, presented a memo on the endorsement of a high-level steering committee during the regular cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday, October 11, 2024.
Jacob Maiju Korok, the deputy minister of information said the council of ministers listened to a presentation from the Minister of Mining on the establishment of gold refineries and mineral trading centers in the Republic of South Sudan.
Korok explained that the main aim of establishing these trading centres is to ensure that artisanal and small-scale miners benefit from minerals, curbing the smuggling of gold and other minerals across the borders.
“The minister of mining requested for the council of ministers’ approval of the establishment of a steering committee and a technical team,” he told reporters on Friday.
After its presentation, the cabinet deliberated on the memo and passed it with directives to the Ministry of Finance to operationalize the plan.
“The council of ministers directs the ministry of finance and planning to pay a previously approved amount for the purpose of establishing mineral trading centers throughout the country,” Korok stated.
In a related development, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Ruben Madol Arol, also submitted the Mining Act 2012 (Amendment Bill 2024) to the cabinet during Friday’s cabinet meeting.
The purpose of the bill is to amend the Mining Act 2012 to conform to the provisions of the Revitalized Agreement, transitional constitution, and best practices.
Furthermore, Deputy Minister Korok explained that the bill aims to provide development of the nation’s mineral resources and establish a South Sudan Geological Survey Agency, the Mining Corporation, and the Mining Authority. The memo was thoroughly deliberated and passed.
In September 2023, the former national minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol, announced the establishment of the South Sudan Minerals Development Cooperation.
Speaking at the “National Economic Forum” in Juba last year, Bak explained that this entity will partner with interested partners to explore trade and support the development of the mineral sector together with the Ministry of Mining and other relevant institutions.
In January 2024 the Ministry of Mining signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Qatari gold firm “United Gold Factory” to establish a Public-Private Partnership to organize small-scale mining enterprises in South Sudan.
The government then announced it was going to work with the Qatari gold firm to establish mining marketing stations in mineral-rich areas across the country
According to the MoU the marketing stations will be used to organize small-scale mining enterprises in South Sudan and facilitate the trade of refined extractive resources.
The marketing stations are also meant to formalize the mining sector, improving working conditions and hours, wages as well as health and safety concerns.
EnergyCapital&power reported that South Sudan has a number of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and marble.
However, the country faces challenges in cross-border trade, and the gold sector is informal and unregulated.