(Ecofin Agency) - In Tanzania, the New Mara gold mine which is owned by CATA Mining will start operations between May and June, Minister of Energy and Minerals, Sospeter Muhongo, said.

“The work you are seeing has taken almost one year and we are well prepared to start production,”said Mahuza Mumangi Nyakirang'ani, CATA Mining’s director. $54 million have already been invested in the implementation of the project.

New Mara is located in Kataryo, a village of the Butiama District. It could the region’s second biggest gold mine after North Mara which is exploited by Acacia Mining, Tanzania’s leading gold producer.

More than 200 workers are currently employed at this mine, but this number should increase when operations start.

The head of project has asked government to help supply power to the mine so that money injected in diesel engine is invested in community development projects.

Louis-Nino KANSOUN