Senegal: push the mining industry to become a pillar industry

SMM reported that: In the 20th century, most of the time, Senegal's mining industry is in a dormant state. Phosphate for sale, from the 1960s to 2000, extracted from the ore body is the main source of income of the Senegalese Mining. In 2005, Senegal's mining industry began to extend base metals, including iron ore exploration. Currently, Senegal has the world's third-largest heavy mineral sand sedimentation mine, which was started on December 13 last year.

Senegal, located in the most western of African continent, has the relative scarcity of natural resources, with the main mineral of phosphates, iron, and marble. Some foreign exploration companies have discovered gold deposits in the Antrim green schist belt in western Senegal.

Ousmane Cisse, the Geological Bureau Secretary of Senegal Ministry of Energy and Mining, said in an interview that, gold, copper and cobalt are founded in Senegal in recent years. For example, many gold deposits are discovered in Kedougouin the eastern Senegal.

In fact, because of the relatively well-developed infrastructure and a stable political environment, Senegal is the regional headquarters of many multinational corporations.

"Senegal, the most stable countries in the region, is a pearl of West Africa. Many companies even believe that even if they don’t have business in Senegal, it is a wise choice to headquarter here." Cisse reiterated, "In 2008, the Government of Senegal jointed with World Bank work together to build a society of mining projects, in order to encourage local small and medium-sized mining companies get more financial support to help the miners to enhance their professional skills, and gradually improve the mining equipment, such as stone crusher, mobile crusher, stone crushing plant, which has led to more effective exploitation activities to enhance the economic benefits.”

Exploration of iron ore mining in Senegal relates closely to the large-scale infrastructure development projects. In order to facilitate the transport and export of mineral products, they will build a 400 km-long railway, and renovation of the former abandoned for some 350 km of the old railway.  At the same time, they will build a new port for the development of their mineral export market.

In addition, a railway which is cross-country, extending from the mining area to the existing port of Dakar is planning to be built in the pipeline. "Cisse added.