Kenya and Malawi implement bans on unprocessed mineral exports

Kenya and Malawi are implementing stricter regulations on mineral exports to ensure greater domestic value addition and economic benefit from their natural resources.

In Kenya, President William Ruto announced a ban on the export of unprocessed minerals, including gold. The government plans to construct at least three refineries in the Kakamega mining region and Nairobi to process gold locally. Under this new policy, the Central Bank of Kenya will hold priority purchasing rights. The move aims to curb unregulated mining, which currently accounts for over 90% of the country's gold production and results in significant lost royalty revenue.

Similarly, Malawi’s Mining Minister Thoko Tembo has reaffirmed that mining companies are prohibited from exporting raw minerals. The policy requires all extracted materials to be processed within the country to foster employment and community development. This directive was highlighted during a visit to the Kangankunde Rare Earth Project, where Lindian Resources is working to upgrade its mining license to support large-scale production and downstream processing.