By Assan Bah
Mr. Nani Juwara, the Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines has warned against illegal sand mining gripped by coastal communities in the Gambia.
This activity which is sometimes done illegally and at very odd hours of the night, has destroyed pristine coastal environments and ecosystems including the country’s beaches.
Juwara made this warning during his appearance in the weekly televised Town Hall meeting aired on GRTS television.
According to the Minister, such acts are illegal according to the laws of the Gambia.
“The major challenge that we face as a ministry is illegal sand mining,” he said, and noted that such activities have destroyed the country’s environment and ecosystems particularly its coastlines. Mr. Juwara argued that this has necessitated the government’s decision to ban sand mining on the country’s coastline in 2023.
“It is illegal for anyone to go to these beaches from Bijilo to Kartong, and extract sand,’’ Juwara said, adding that this is a serious challenge that the country faces.
He said people illegally go to these places at night to mine sand from the beaches which in turn further destroys the country’s environment. Mr. Juwara therefore appealed for everyone’s support in combating this menace by reporting anyone who is seen embarking on such illegal mining activities which he described as unfair because only a few people benefit from the activity, at the expense of the majority.
Energy Minister Juwara further reported that government has signed a prospecting licence agreement with a Norwegian-Gambian mining company to do some mining within the Gambia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This initiative which he said started in earnest, holds strategic importance to the country’s economic growth.
“As a successful identification and potential exploitation of this deep-sea mineral resource, it would significantly enhance national revenue, diversify the mineral resource base of the country, and promote sustainable economic growth,” Juwara said. He asserted that the process is only at the exploration stage as of now.
“They are doing the survey and the investigation to know what we have in our EEZ,” Juwara said.
On sand dredging licensing and resource management, Mr. Juwara reported a considerable progress in the regulation of sand dredging operations across the country through a structured license process. He indicated that key efforts on this include zoning and block demarcation, which he said serves as an effective mineral resource management strategy.
“These systems provide a clear framework for sand dredging and prospecting by allowing licensed companies to concentrate their activities in the designated areas with high potential. Thus promoting efficiency and reducing the environmental impact, and enhancing regulatory oversight,’’ Juwara said.
He said after the successful dredging operations by ‘Sino Majilack’ Company around the Denton Bridge area, his Ministry was able to meet the growing national demand for construction sand while ending sand mining along the country’s coastline.
“From 2021 to 2024, we have seen an increase in the demand for construction sand. On average, the demand was almost 420,000 cubic meters. Today, this demand is over 1 million cubic meters, and this is a significant increase,” he said. He further indicated that this will not only support infrastructure development, but it will also provide the needed revenue from royalties that is paid to government. This he said has helped the government to take care of some of the country’s social needs such as support for health facilities and Schools.
Mr. Juwara concluded by renewing his ministry’s commitment to transparency, sustainable resource management, and the creation of an attractive environment for investors.
