“Ugandan DGSM Grants Provisional Mining License at Makuutu Heavy Rare Earths Project!

A provisional mining license has been granted by the Director General of the Department of Geological Survey of Uganda (DGSM) for the Makuutu heavy rare earths deposit project. This marks a major step towards the development of Uganda’s mineral resources, and the opening up of new mining opportunities. The Makuutu project is an exploration venture operated by the Ugandan private company Mulanje Mining Ltd in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. It is located in the eastern part of the country, approximately 700 km from the capital Kampala. The Makuutu project is an exploration venture for heavy mineral sands, such as magnetite and ilmenite. These heavy minerals contain valuable rare earth elements which are used in many modern technologies, such as phones, computers, and camera lenses. It is believed to be the first large-scale heavy mineral sands project to be developed in Uganda. The project is expected to involve the extraction of approximately 6 million tons of ore over a 10-year period. This ore will be processed and sold to international customers. It is expected that the project will create hundreds of new jobs, significantly increase local incomes, and boost the economy of Uganda. It is also hoped that it will attract other investments in both mining and related industries. The granting of the provisional mining license is an important step towards the development of the Makuutu project. While it still requires a number of environmental and social studies to be undertaken, as well as the signing of production sharing agreements, the granting of the license means that the project now has official government approval. The successful completion of the development of the Makuutu project will be a major milestone for Uganda and its efforts to tap into its vast mineral resources. It is expected that it will be a major source of income for the country, and will create significant opportunities for local community development as well.