The opposition, People’s Liberal Party, says it opposes any attempt by the government to explore non-oil minerals in Western Bahr El-Ghazal State and the Equatoria region.

It says the government should currently be focusing on oil, and payment of the loans it took from foreign countries to invest in the sector.

Peter Mayen, leader of the People’s Liberal Party, told Eye Radio that there is fear that the minerals will be depleted soon, if the government embarks on exploring them now.

“There are lots of minerals in WBG, which actually the government is trying to start working on, and we do oppose that, because it is too early for us,” Mr Mayen said.

“And the reason we oppose that is because, what we have as resources in this nation right now is the oil. We are not even into the same level with the investors in oil, so you find that we borrowed money, we took loan to invest in the oil.

“We have not yet really paid back the investors so that we take over the project, or even to come to an equal terms with the investors in oil.”

Mr. Mayen says his party has detailed report on the quantity of the minerals in the two states in both Western Bahr El-Ghazal State and some areas in the Equatoria region.

Copper and iron are reported to be in large quantities in Hufrat-Nihas or copper hole and Kafiakenji in Raja County of Western Bahr El-Ghazal State.

Survey reports also show presence of gold in Kapoeta area in Eastern Equatoria State.