Hope for workers as Kenya Fluorspar resumes operations
Fluorspar mining in progress at the Kerio Valley. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
The factory suspended operations in June citing weak global demand for fluorspar and depressed market prices. Nico Spangenberg, the firm’s managing director, said the future was still uncertain.
The factory is a major source of income in Elgeyo-Marakwet County and has played a leading role in providing infrastructure such as roads and health services.
Kenya Fluorspar Company has resumed operations after a two-month shutdown, offering hope to hundreds of its temporary employees who had been rendered jobless.
The factory suspended operations in June citing weak global demand for fluorspar and depressed market prices. Nico Spangenberg, the firm’s managing director, said the future was still uncertain.
“We have resumed normal operations but it is not clear how long we will remain running as demand for fluorspar and the market price continue to fluctuate at low levels,” said Mr Spangenberg.
The firm sent temporary workers home when it closed while permanent staff were deployed to other company assignments.
The factory is a major source of income in Elgeyo-Marakwet County and has played a leading role in providing infrastructure such as roads and health services.
Mr Spangenberg said the company has been facing weak global demand since 2009, forcing the mine to cut production for six to seven months a year.
Chinese producers, who are the global market leaders, have been running at 60 per cent capacity over the past year, he said.
The mineral, which is wholly exported, is used in the making of glassware and air conditioning systems.
Fluorspar deposits in Kerio Valley were discovered in 1967. The government set up the Fluorspar Company of Kenya, which went into receivership in 1979, in 1971.
Today it is privately owned by a Canada and America-based company.
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