By Fatou Sillah
The Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy & Mines, has signed a mining license agreement with the Norwegian-Gambian Mining Company (NGMC) to explore deep-sea mining opportunities off the country’s coast.
In a statement, the ministry announced that the agreement was reached after a thorough administrative and due diligence process. NGMC, a subsidiary of European Eco Minerals (EEM) AS, will conduct an extensive survey of The Gambia’s seabed to identify potential mining areas, with no financial risk or obligations for the government.
“The ministry of petroleum, Energy & Mines is pleased to inform the public that it has entered into a prospective mining license agreement with Norwegian Gambian Mining Company (NGMC), a subsidiary of European Eco Minerals (EEM) AS, following administrative and due diligence process to explore deep-sea mining opportunities,” The Ministry said.
Under the terms of the agreement, NGMC will conduct an extensive survey of The Gambia’s seabed to identify potential mining areas. The government highlighted that there will be no financial risk or obligation for the country in this phase.
“Under the agreement, NGMC will conduct an extensive survey of The Gambia’s seabed at no risk or financial commitment from The Gambia Government,” The statement said.
The partnership is seen as a significant milestone in The Gambia’s broader efforts to diversify its economy. As part of the exploration phase, NGMC will deploy two specialized survey vessels equipped with state-of-the-art technology to map and assess seabed conditions for mining potential.
“As part of the exploration phase, NGMC will deploy two specialized survey vessels to map and analyze the seabed for mining opportunities. These vessels will utilize state-of-the-art technology. This initiative represents a major milestone in The Gambia’s efforts to diversify its economy,” The Ministry said
“A key highlight of this project is the use of EEM’s proprietary and patented deep-sea mining technology, designed to minimize environmental impact. This aligns with The Gambia’s commitment to sustainable development and responsible resource management,”