Mining laboratory set to open Q4—official
Ministry of Mining says government-owned mining laboratory will fully roll out between October and December this year.
The ministry’s director of administration Andrew Chisamba said in an interview on Tuesday that although some minor activities are happening, they are waiting for final touches to roll out the facility.
He could, however, not elaborate the remaining technical aspects of the project situated in Area 4 in Lilongwe, but said it is the most advanced laboratory in the region.
Said Chisamba: “This state of the art laboratory is almost functional now, the equipment is being mounted.
“There are just few things remaining and we are waiting for final touches to be done, which is expected to take a month or so.”
He said the laboratory is beneficial to the country as it will be analysing mineral samples within the country.
Said Chisamba: “This laboratory is of benefit to Malawians because in the past we used to send samples outside for analysis, but now we will be able to do that ourselves.
“This will cut on foreign exchange for the services that we used to pay and also cut on the time that it takes for us to get analysis results. This will have an impact on the process of mining in the country.”
In a bid document dated August 12 2024, the ministry is looking for the supply of analytical laboratory equipment, mineral processing lab equipment, lapidary equipment and geological survey laboratory equipment to be delivered by September 10 this year.
Reads the document in part: “The ministry of Mining has allocated funds in its 2024/25 development budget for procurement of the above referenced equipment and now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the supply, delivery, installation, orientation, training, testing and commissioning of mineral laboratory equipment.”
In an interview on Tuesday, geologist Grain Malunga, who is also former minister of Energy, said this means the ministry is determined to finalise the lab, which had been lacking some equipment to start running.
“The bid document is for suppliers who are able to buy the said equipment to deliver and install to ensure the lab is really finalised. Currently the mining lab is not fully complete,” he said.
Until 2014, mining was contributing 10 percent to the country’s gross domestic product, but ever since Kayelekera Uranium Mine was put on care and maintenance in February 2014, mining sector contribution to the economy dropped.
Last year, the mining sector contributed one percent to the economy, according to the Malawi Government Annual Economic Report 2024.
