Halal Mining to establish barite processing plant and mineral laboratory in Kilifi

Halal Mining Company Limited is setting up a barite mining and processing plant in Vitengeni, Kilifi County, as the Kenyan government seeks to promote local processing of the country's mineral resources. The company will also establish a laboratory to evaluate the economic value of other minerals found in the region, such as silver and lead.

The development is part of a broader government initiative to increase local beneficiation of minerals instead of exporting them in raw form. The barite mining and processing plant will enable barite mined in Kilifi to undergo further processing locally before reaching the market. Barite, a mineral composed of barium sulphate, is used as a weighting material in drilling fluids for oil and gas wells and in various products like paints, plastics, and rubber.

The establishment of the laboratory will help assess the economic value of other minerals in the area, including silver and lead, based on the mining licence granted to Halal Mining for 25.5855 square kilometres in Kilifi County. The company had applied for rights to mine lead, zinc, and barytes in an area covering 119 cadastral blocks, with the application open for public comments.

Kilifi County is known for its deposits of manganese, iron ore, limestone, zinc, lead, barite, copper, titanium, construction minerals, and ballast. The government's focus on facilitating responsible exploitation of these resources aligns with the Mining Act of 2016, which emphasizes local processing and compliance with environmental and social requirements. Additionally, community involvement is crucial in the regulatory framework.