By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –
THE Government has signed a five year agreement with China geological survey to carry out a geological mapping for Zambia.
The cooperation is expected to be beneficial as it will enhance geological, geophysical and geochemical data gathering in areas where the geological survey department has not conducted mappings.
Mines and Mineral Development Minister Christopher Yaluma said currently, only 61 per cent of the country was geologically mapped with 39 per cent remaining.
Mr Yaluma was speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources Vice minister Zhong Ziran in Lusaka yesterday.
The minister said the geological survey department of Zambia and the China geological survey has been cooperating since February 25, 2010, in joint investigations and technical exchange in the field of geosciences.
“China has helped us research in areas of geological mapping of two quarter degree sheets in Kasama and they have also done low density soil and stream sediment sampling in the northern part as well as high density soil stream sediment sampling in selected parts of the country,” he said.
Mr Yaluma said the cooperation was expected to continue through an MoU between China Geological Survey and the Geological Survey Department of Zambia.
This would involve researching and correlation on basic geology, geo-data construction and sharing, mineral resources assessment and exploration technology.
“This will include environment geology, hydrogeology, geo-hazard and geoparks as well as geological map compilation and metallogenic correlation,”he said.
He said this would open up areas for investment and reduce costs on the investors undertaking explorations.
Dr Zhong said his country would continue assisting Zambia in areas of mining and investment.
He said the MoU signed would enhance and encourage Chinese enterprises to expand their investment.
Dr Zhong said the Chinese government had pledged to strengthen the bilateral relationship with Zambia in the areas of mining and investment.
“China and Zambia maintains good relations which is a long term, and our mutual benefit in terms of trade and cooperation. I have come to Zambia to strengthen the cooperation in terms of geology and mineral resources,” he said.