What happened to fluorspar mining company in Elgeyo Marakwet County?
The entrance to Fluorspar Mining Company in Elgeyo Marakwet County, on September 28, 2021. The factory collapsed in 2016. Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
How much fluorspar does Kenya produce a year?
At the peak of the mining operations, Kenya used to produce 120,000 tonnes of fluorspar annually, compared to South Africa¡¯s 300,000 tonnes and Morocco¡¯s 100,000 tonnes. The planned revival of the firm comes as good news for investors in transport sector, who said it will boost their businesses.
What does Kenya’s bio-refinery initiative mean for Africa?
The initiative in Kenya represents the first integrated project in the world to bring Africa into the vertical bio-refinery supply chain by providing income opportunities and market access to thousands of farmers in degraded areas.
How many workers lost their jobs after the Kenya Fluorspar Company closed?
About 3,000 workers lost their jobs when the company wound up operations. The exit of the Kenya Fluorspar Company left South Africa and Morocco as the only countries in Africa engaged in flourspar mining. More than 500 families were displaced from 9,070 acres to pave way for mining activities.