MINING
Malawi is endowed with a number of mineral resources which are not presently being exploited. The mineral sector has suffered from a lack of investment in basic infrastructure. Government encourages private investors to delineate, evaluate and where viable, capitalise on the resources using appropriate technology. At present, mining operations are limited to small-scale production of coal, limestone, rubies and sapphires. Geological information is available on existing resources including information on mineral deposits, reserves and assessed values necessary to offer the economic potential for exploration and exploitation. Known viable reserves of bauxite, asbestos, graphite, uranium, glass sands, vermiculite, phosphate, coal, ceramic clays, gemstones and strontianite have been identified. Conducive investment and economic policies have been formulated for the benefit of prospective investors. The Government established a state-owned Mineral Investment and Development Corporation (MIDCOR) to promote investment in the mining sector. MIDCOR is presently working with more than 20 companies in different stages of mineral exploration and extraction. Since 1980 mineral exploration has been conducted by British and French interests concentrating on uranium, tin, tungsten, niobium, phosphate and vermiculite.
CONSTRUCTION
Between 1980 and 1986, the construction sector performed marginally better
than the rest of the economy but activity didn't pick up strongly until
1989-1991 when foreign exchange grew and the overall economic performance of the
country improved. By 1993, recovery in the construction sector was boosted by
the resumption of donor aid and the value of approved construction plans for
Blantyre and Lilongwe jumped by 47 percent. The sector has continued to perform
steadily but has been heavily reliant on aid projects and international donor
financing.