The Government of Kenya has carried out coal exploration in the Mui Basin in Kitui County, which covers an area of 400km2.
So far thirty three (33) wells have been drilled with depths ranging from 75 to 324 metres and coal seams encountered in twenty (20) of the wells. Coal sample analyses have revealed that the coal is sub-bituminous to bituminous in quality.
As such, coal exploration has reached a commendable stage as three (3) new wells with coal seams thickness of 13 metres, 5.37 metres and 4.20 metres have been sunk. Seventeen(17) wells previously sunk have coal seam thicknesses ranging from 0.3 metres to 12.6 metres. These coal seams have been discovered at depths ranging from 20 metres to 320 metres below the ground. An area of about 20 km2 has been delineated as a coal zone.
To determine the quantity and quality of the coal deposits, the government has floated a competitive tender for drilling of twenty (20) appraisal wells in Kateiko – Yoonye area covering 40 Km2. The successful bidder will in addition to drilling the 20 wells also estimated the commerciality of the coal deposits. Information available indicates that commercial deposits have been ascertained and a concession will be granted to a private developer through an open competitive tender.
To accelerate coal exploration, the government has also created three more Coal exploration blocks in the Mui basin, which shall be leased to prospective investors for exploration and exploitation.
There is no doubt that there are immense coal deposits in the Mui Basin. Reports have it that there are enough deposits that this country can mine for close to 400 years.
This means that coal deposits in Kitui have the capacity to develop not just Kitui but indeed the whole of Kenya and the region as a whole. This is a welcome development indeed. As such, we hope that the exploitation of coals and other minerals like Limestone and Iron Ore will be for the actual benefit of the inhabitants of Kitui and the country as a whole.
It is in this connection that we call on the State and other players involved to carry out this process with meticulous care so that residents of Kitui view the whole idea as their own. They need to be consulted especially because mining in the area will bring with itself mass displacement and loss of livelihoods.
It is also known that coal has adverse effects on the health of populations that live within the area and proper mitigation plans must be put in place. What we re saying is that the people of Kitui must feel and live the wealth that is brought about by the known and unknown natural resources in Mui Basin.
