Barriers of Mining and Minerals on Social Economics

in Awdal, Sanaag and Marodijeh in Somaliland

Abstract: The primary objective of this research was to emphasize barriers of mining and minerals in Somaliland. A questionnaire was conducted in three mining sites in Marodijex, Awdal and Sanaag regions in Somaliland. The mineral potential of Somaliland has not been thoroughly explored or investigated. Since colonial and post- independence times, the country has remained one of the last frontiers, offering chances and surprises to those that go into it. Now, there is an almost insatiable appetite for commodities, particularly mineral resources. As demand and prices grow and producing resources diminish, the global commodity business is looking for new frontiers to meet demand. Somaliland is a newly explored frontier area that is ready to divulge its secrets of oil, gas, uranium, platinum, rare earth metals, gold, copper, iron, manganese, tin, and gemstones. Mining and Minerals has a key role in Pillar One (economic development), which envisions a nation whose citizens enjoy sustained economic growth and reduced poverty levels. Somaliland is believed to contain a huge hydrocarbon resource and vast coal resources, estimated at 6 billion tons occur near Berbera (Ali, 2009). From 2020 to 2022. Somaliland mining and mineral resource sector has been hampered by several challenges including the weak regulatory framework: Somaliland mining and mineral sector face weak enforcement of legal frameworks and policies in the mining and mineral sector. Improve the regulatory environment. The Ministry of Energy and Minerals should review and update its mining laws and regulations to make them more attractive to foreign investors. This could include streamlining the permitting process, reducing taxes and royalties, and providing other incentives to exploration companies.

I. INTRODUCTION
Somaliland is situated on the northern side of the Horn of Africa with the Gulf of Aden to the north, Somalia to the east, Ethiopia to the south and west, and Djibouti to the north-west. The morphology of the country is typical of areas in extension, with basins and mountains of up to 2000 m. The geology of Somaliland has been surveyed more actively since the end of WW II. The geology of the area was first described by Macfadyen (1949) and several reports compiled by the Geological Survey of the Former Somaliland Protectorate in the 1950’s. MacFadyen’s report “Water Supply and Geology of Part of British Somaliland” (1951), made a valuable contribution to the knowledge of the geological and hydrogeological conditions. The report includes data on meteorology, stream flows, surface geology, borehole logs of the shallow aquifer in the Hargeisa, Ceerigabo and Burco. Records of the 46 boreholes (3,200 meters were drilled) for water supply of Hargeisa during 1931-1939 are also reported by MacFadyen. Nephrite jade is of wide interest, not only for its value as a highly valued precious stone, but also for its significance in tracing geological and petrological processes. Here, we report the first discovery of a nephrite deposit in Africa, located in Somaliland. Field investigations revealed that two open nephrite pits at Goodieood and Laasmacaane are composed of a series of discontinuous vein-shaped nephrite bodies stretching for 2 km and defining a nephrite belt. Dolomitic marble and epidote-amphibole are the major rock types in this nephrite belt. Somaliland has produced gem-quality garnet, opal, emerald, aquamarine, and several other gem materials (Kinnaird & Jackson 2000). At the February 2020 Tucson gem shows, one of the authors (AMY) had some recent production of rough and cut orange garnets from Somaliland. At the February 2020 Tucson gem shows, one of the authors (AMY) had some recent production of rough and cut orange garnets from Somaliland. According to his contacts in the mining area—including dealer Ahmed Shekh, a miner named Abdikarim and archaeologist Mohamed Abdi Allamagan the garnet-bearing area is situated in an area measuring approx- imately 10 10 km that is located just south-west of the town of Daarbuduq (or Da’ar buduq), which is in between the capital city of Hargeisa and the coastal city of Berbera.

II. SOMALILAND MINERAL POLICY
Somaliland has a mineral policy that maximizes the national economic benefits from the development of mineral resources through diversifying the country’s minerals production and promotes a more sustainable economy. Somaliland mineral policy has been approved by the Somaliland parliament in 2022 and now it’s active.

A. Mineral Potential
The mineral potential of Somaliland has not been thoroughly explored or investigated. Since colonial and post-independence times, the country has remained one of the last frontiers, offering chances and surprises to those that go into it. Now, there is an almost insatiable appetite for commodities, particularly mineral resources. As demand and prices grow and producing resources diminish, the global commodity business is looking for new frontiers to meet demand. Somaliland is a newly explored frontier area that is ready to divulge its secrets of oil, gas, uranium, platinum, rare earth metals, gold, copper, iron, manganese, tin, and gemstones.
Sixty-one heavy mineral enriched samples along the Somaliland coast from Eil Sheikh to Ras Khatib, about 130 km, were analyzed using X-ray Fluorescence, X- ray Diffraction and SEM-EDS techniques. The study reveals that a considerable amount of heavy minerals is present along the Somaliland coast and confirms the presence of high concentration titanium and iron bearing minerals. However, the backshore deposits in the mouths of Waaheen and Biyo Gure ephemeral rivers as well as raised paleo-beaches in the east of port city of Berbera demonstrate the highest level of titaniferous heavy minerals with most samples showing concentration greater than 50 wt %. The titanium detected in geochemical analysis occurs in the form of ilmenite, rutile, titanite and titaniferous magnetite.

B. Coal and Cement Potential
In the early 1980s, a cement plant became operational at Berbera in Somaliland, however, the lack of proper maintenance, shortage of spare parts, lack of managerial staff and skilled workers during the civil war caused the closure of this plant and termination of cement production. National cement consumption was estimated to be about 250 000 metric tons in 2012, in view of this fact some plan to restart the country’s only cement plant at Berbera in Somaliland appears in recent time. The abandoned quarry with massive limestone of Mesozoic age reach in belemnites is situated near Berbera cement plant. Two samples of limestone were collected there in co-operation with Ministry of Water and Mineral Resources and transported to laboratories of Institute of Geonic of the Czech Academy of Sciences. From the chemical composition point of view the tested limestone is suitable for cement production.

III. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
Mining and Minerals has a key role in Pillar One (economic development), which envisions a nation whose citizens enjoy sustained economic growth and reduced poverty levels. A sound energy sector will stimulate economic growth, social development, agriculture productivity, industrialization, and mining. The sub-sector as a mining can potentially have positive impacts in Somaliland on job creation, community development, and local economies. To secure this potential, the Somaliland government promotes the principle of corporate social responsibility when granting exploration rights to private companies. Development of the mineral’s potential could also help in mainstreaming the local communities (including tribal communities) by sharing the economic benefits of mining related activities with them in a fair and equitable manner through mechanism that give them consultations and enable them to adopt changes at a pace of their consulting. The mineral sector can potentially change the situation by providing much needed employment and infrastructure creation needs. Somaliland is endowed with varied mineral resources including gold, silver, base metals, chromium, cobalt, industrial minerals (gypsum and celestite), and precious stones (emerald and agate). Somaliland is believed to contain a huge hydrocarbon resource and vast coal resources, estimated at 6 billion tons occur near Berbera (Ali, 2009). From 2020 to 2022, the ministry carried out mineral exploration for total potential areas 2373 sq.km which is equivalent to 6% of total basement areas of 30,000 sq.km. Details of mineral explorations carried out between 2020-2022 in Marodijeex, Awdal, Sanaag and Sahil regions.

A. Challenges
Somaliland mining and mineral resource sector has been hampered by several challenges including:
 Weak regulatory framework: Somaliland mining and mineral sector face weak enforcement of legal frameworks and policies in the mining and mineral sector.
 Human capacity constraints: There is shortage of specialized local manpower in the field of mining, mineral geology, geo-physics and reservoir and production engineering.
 High expectations from host community leading to conflicts
 Low value addition for mineral resources
 Environmental and health concerns
 Inadequate infrastructure development of the requisite network of roads. The mining and mineral sector needs to prepare for facing the challenges in view of increasing demand.

VI. RECOMMENDATIONS
 The discovery of unexplored mining sites to find investment to boost the country’s economy.
 improving the knowledge and skills of Artisanal and Small-scale (ASM) miners
 finding investment opportunities in the mining sector that will contribute to the growth of the country’s GDP.
 Designing and implementing production sharing agreements for the private mining sectors increases revenue generation of the country.
 The establishment of a comprehensive mineral gemology analysis center that will add value to minerals.
 Establish Geological research association center.
 Create a one-stop shop for mining investors.
 Establish a mineral development fund. Promote sustainable mining practices.

By Mohamed Jama Hussein / Ahmed Ibrahim Osman