The Gambia, a small enclave surrounded by Senegal on the west coast of Africa, has little to offer in the commodities sector, apart from heavy mineral sands which were last mined in the 1950’s. At a 3% cut-off, the resource is estimated at containing 9 Mt grading 8.6% heavy minerals. The heavy mineral concentrates average 70% ilmenite, 15.9% zircon, 3.3% rutile and the remainder gangue. However, it is not known to what extent the palaeo beach deposits have been investigated. Australian Carnegie Corporation is currently investigating the Brufut deposits located along the coast. Here a stockpile of some 11 000t of zircon has been acquired, along with an identified resource containing approximately 900 000t. The Government of Gambia has a 49% interest in the venture.

Other than this, The Gambia produces industrial minerals for local consumption.

Since the 1950’s when mining of the known deposits of titaniferous beach sand was stopped, there has been no mining activity of any scale in Gambia. The emphasis of the government’s policy has therefore been on conducting geological surveys, investigations and explorations in order to ascertain the mineral resources potential of the country as well as the planning of their exploitation.

A new Mineral and Mining Act is being considered for promulgation shortly. The provisions of the Act will include, rules to govern the operations relating to the exploration, prospecting and mining of the available mineral resources of the country and the regulation of such operations as regards the payment of fees e. g. rent and royalties; prospecting licence and prospecting right as well as mining right and water right. The secretary of State responsible for mining activities will be the main authority for the determination of the various rates to be paid in respect of royalties and fees.

All land and mineral resources therein belong to the State and their exploitation and use are controlled by the competent government departments, namely the State Department of Trade, Industry and Employment. Mining rights, in particular, will be granted under the provisions of the proposed legislation of State Department charged with responsibility for mining activities.

The existing conditions governing mining operations are as follows:

License Types

The formulation of a new investment code is under study presently while the provision of fiscal and regulatory incentives to private investors are being rationalised. Tax reforms constitute a major element in the economic reform package in this connection. The aim is the improvement of incentives for bone fide economic activity. An indicated above company tax is presently 35 %.

Under the old Development Act (1988) which is under review, considerable incentives for private sector investment were provided for export oriented activities in the form of tax holidays on company profits, import duty/tax exemptions for capital equipment and supplies for industry and related fiscal concessions. The current development policies still place emphasis on providing all the necessary conditions and general economic environment that will attract private venture capital, especially in the area of export and manufacturing activities, and to maximise the production and returns from such capital investments.

All information indicated above as “to be determined“ or “not available“ will be clarified when the new legislation has come into force.