Lily Albino Akol, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. (Dolku Media)

The Economic Cluster chaired by Vice President James Wani Igga has approved 65 million US Dollars for the Ministry of Mining to conduct a geological survey and mineral mapping in parts of the country.

The survey will be conducted in two phases, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Lily Albino Akol.

She said the Minister of Mining Martin Abucha has been directed to present the proposal to the national cabinet for approval.

“The proposal of carrying out a comprehensive Geology survey and mapping was presented by the minister of mining, and it will be held in two phases the first phase which will be funded by the government of South Sudan will cost about 65 million USD,” said Ms. Albino.

The deputy minister spoke on the South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation on Thursday.

She further said Phase Two of the minerals survey will be funded by a loan from China.

According to her, the proposal was endorsed by the cluster and the minister was urged to present it to Council of Ministers meeting.

In June 2023, the Ministry of Petroleum purchased a geophysics airplane to conduct aerial surveys of the country’s mineral resources.

The imaging technology was intended to expand aerial mapping data collection and seismic investigation of the country’s underground wealth.

A month later, the Ministry of Mining signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Russian Company to identify and create digital mapping of South Sudan’s minerals.

This was on the sideline of the recent two-day Russia-Africa summit in Moscow where Vice President of the Infrastructure Cluster Taban Deng Gai represented South Sudan.

In addition to oil, the country is said to have mineral resources like copper, gold, diamonds, limestone among others.

On October 9, a member of the national parliament questioned the where about of revenue from the South Sudan’s minerals which are allegedly being mined by dubious companies, as well as the logic under which the mining sector “do not pay taxes” to the South Sudan Revenue Authority.

Honorable Grace Abalang voiced the concern during a parliamentary sitting held on Wednesday to approve the revenue authority bill 2023 in Juba.

She alleged that there has not been remission of revenue and taxes from the country’s mining sector in the last 14 years.