Japan Grants $1.2M for Zambia’s Mining Labs

Japan Grants $1.2M for Zambia’s Mining Labs

By Sharon Siame

Japan has given Zambia grant assistance of approximately one point two million United States dollars to support the procurement of laboratory equipment at the Geological Survey Department under the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.

The two countries have signed and exchanged notes for the provision of Mineral Analysis Instruments under the Economic and Social Development Programme.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lusaka today, Japanese Ambassador to Zambia TAKEUCHI KAZUYUKI said the aid is expected to improve the mineral analysis capacity and update geological data.

Mr. KAZUYUKI said it is expected that exploration and mining activities will accelerate, thereby contributing to increased national tax revenues and poverty reduction.

And Finance Minister SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE thanked the Japanese Government for the grant aid, saying that this will enable the Ministry of Mines to procure state-of-the-art mining equipment and improve the capabilities of the Geological Survey Department.

Dr. MUSOKOTWANE said that the new equipment will improve the accuracy and efficiency of geological surveys, resulting in further investments in the mining sector.