Programs & Political Structure
Within the framework of the technical co-operation between the European Union (9th European Development Fund – EDF) and the government of Senegal, a Mining Sector Support Programme (Programme d’Appui au Secteur Minier – PASMI, 9 ACP SE 09) amounting to €13 million has been negotiated and implemented since 2007. The PASMI programme consists of five projects:
- The Airborne Geophysical Survey of south- eastern Senegal;
- The establishment of a Mineral Documentation and a Mining Cadastre Centre;
- Geological mapping of the sedimentary basin;
- Geological mapping of south-eastern Senegal;
- Capacity building for the artisanal mining sector
Airborne Geophysical Survey
During the past two years, nearly all of the south- east of Senegal has been covered by an airborne geophysical survey. The work has had a typical 250m line spacing and a sensor mean terrain clearance of 80-120m. Magnetic and radiometric data has recorded three radioactive elements (potassium, uranium and thorium) and the exposure rate (total counts) using calibrated hand- held 256 channel spectrometers. Some 134,000km of surveys have been flown during the past two years, and interpreted within the framework of the technical cooperation between the European Union and the government of Senegal. Data are available as whole area grids according to the Senegalese map system in 1:500,000, 1:200,000 and 1:50,000 map sheets.
National mineral database
Under PASMI (from April 2007 to December 2008) the government created a Mineral Documentation and Mining Cadastre Centre (CDCM). The project helped set up an archive centre for the mining industry and reinforce Senegal’s capacity to implement a mineral title management system using a new mining cadastre. Since the official inauguration on December 17, 2008, the cadastre has operated efficiently.
The project also helped implement a geographical information system for data management of the country’s mineral resources, and a survey was successfully carried out to approve basic norms of environmental management for mining operations.
Geological mapping: sedimentary basin
The Senegal Basin is the central part of the Mauritania-Senegal-Gambia-Bissau-Conakry (MSGBC) basin which stretches from Mauritania to Guinea Bissau along the coast of West Africa. Under the EU funded PASMI, the government of Senegal is presently undergoing detailed geological mapping of this basin. This mapping project aims to produce a standard, print-on-demand geological map of this geologically complex and highly prospective Palaeozoic basin. Maps will be available in 1:500,000 for the whole basin, in 1:200,000 for the northern part and for the Cap Vert peninsula, in 1:50,000 multi-layers map sheets for the west of the meridian 16°40’W and in 1:20,000 multi- layers map sheets for the west of the meridian 17°10’W.
Midway reports indicate many significant changes and enhancements to the understanding of local and regional geology. This very ambitious geological mapping programme, from data collection to providing several final deliverable map quadrangles, will take about 24 months and is scheduled to deliver final products by end-March 2009.
Geological mapping: SE Senegal
This important project started in May 2008, and aims to update, through a geographical information system, the geologic and metalogenic cartography of south-eastern Senegal (last updated in 1960).This revision will take into account the numerous and important data accumulated through mineral exploration programmes and works carried out by researchers and academics since then. At the end of the project in 2010, geological and structural maps will be available in a 1:200,000 map sheet covering the whole Precambrian basement, and in 1:500,000 metalogenic map sheet for the same terrains.These maps to which will be annexed the explanatory notes will be of a certain contribution for the mining exploration of south-eastern Senegal.
Artisanal mining
This project focuses on gold artisanal miners in the Kedougou region.With government support, the project provides direct support to artisanal miners, particularly to the more vulnerable children, women and elderly.This project aims to integrate artisanal miners into the formalised mining sector, to improve techniques and livelihoods of artisanal miners. The government of Senegal is committed to address and solve social, environmental and economic problems associated with artisanal mining as well as child labour and other social illnesses.
Ministère des Mines, de l’Industrie, de la Transformation alimentaire des Produits agricoles et des PME
Under the authority of the Prime Minister, the Minister of state, Minister of Mines, Industry and Small and Medium Size Enterprises elaborates and implements the policy defined by the Chief of the state in the areas of mines, industry and small and medium size enterprises. For this purpose, he manages the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Small and Medium Size Enterprises.
The Ministry of Mines, Industry and SMEs embraces, besides the Cabinet and the services connected to the Cabinet, the General Secretary, the national Directions and other Administrations.
The services connected to the Cabinet are:
- The Internal Inspection;
- The Press and Documentation Service;
- The Projects and Programs Planning and Assessment Unit;
For the implementation of its policies, the Department relies on the following directions:
- Direction of Mines and Geology;
- Direction of Industry;
- Direction of Small and Small and Medium Size Enterprises;
- Direction of General Administration and Equipment.
Also, the Ministry consists of the following administrations:
- Agency for Development and Management of the Small and Medium Enterprises (ADEPME)
- Industrial Sites Promotion Agency (APROSI)
- Senegalese Agency for Technological Innovation (ASIT)
- Senegalese Agency on Standardization (ASN)
- National Subcontract and Partnership Exchange (BNSTP-S)
- Institute of Food Technology (ITA)
- Eastern Senegal Iron Ore Mines Company (MIFERSO)
- Survey and Research of the Phosphates of Matam (SERPM)
Please click to download structure of Ministère des Mines, de l’Industrie, de la Transformation alimentaire des Produits agricoles et des PME
Direction of Mines and Geology (DMG)
The mission of the Direction of Mines and Geology (DMG) is to contribute to the development and the implementation of the mineral policy and strategies. For this purpose, it is responsible for:
- The formulation of regulations related to mineral exploration and exploitation;
- ensuring the control and the follow-up of the mining activities;
- To ensure the link and the collaboration with the sub regional institutions involved in the domain of mines;
- The design of geological and mineral development plans and programs;
- The update of the geological and metallogenical maps, the basic geological and mineral documentation and to establish the mineral indices cards;
- The implementation of a geological and mineral information management system and a mineral cadastre;
- The follow-up of companies and other autonomous administrations intervening in the mineral research and exploitation operations.
The Direction of Mines and Geology consists of:
- Regional Service for Mines and Geology
- Division of Mineral Economics
- Division for Geological Exploration
- Division for Mining Projects Promotion
- Mineral Documentation and Mining Cadastre Centre
Under the framework of the 9th FED, the European Union has programmed a SYSMIN financing of an amount of 13 millions of euro destined to the mining sector. Thus, the Mineral Documentation and Mining Cadastre Centre (CDCM) has been put in place. The CDCM is an archive centre for the mining industry and reinforce Senegal’s capacity to implement a mineral title management system using a new mining cadastre.