North Darfur state regulates ‘traditional mining’

The North Darfur state announced the establishment of a coordination council for traditional mining in the state. The council will supervise the licensing for the traditional mining sites, regulate the collection of mining fees, resolve problems in the mining areas, and monitor the occupational safety, and the preservation of the environment. This week, the council held its first meeting, attended by a delegation of the Federal Ministry of Mines, representatives of the mining police, economic security officers, as well as by representatives of El Sareif, Kutum, El Malha, Mellit, Um Keddada, and Kabkabiya localities, where gold mining is taking place. Traditional mining, or “old-school mining”, involves the use of simple manual tools, such as shovels, pickaxe, and chisels. File photo: A man working in a gold mine in North Darfur (Reuters)