Mining is a real problem in Ziguinchor, where several sites operate clandestinely, according to the regional director of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, Daniel Ngom, who presented a partial overview begun since his arrival in the region.

According to its census, 13 out of 15 active sites visited by its services are in irregularity and only two meet the standards. "Ziguinchor, unfortunately, is a region that has suffered greatly from the exploitation of clandestine sites. It can be noted that in the entire region, currently, on active sites, there are only two that have proper authorization, out of almost fifteen sites," lamented the regional director of Energy, Petroleum and Mines.

Irregularities classified as ignorance of mining regulations, which led to a workshop for consultation, information and awareness-raising among the various stakeholders in the department concerned by this sector at the prefecture.

This information workshop on mining legislation made it possible to identify constraints and clear up ambiguities, which represent a loss of revenue for the State and local and territorial authorities, in relation to the various mining taxes.

A meeting welcomed by the Quarry Operators Association. Chérif Diallo, their secretary general, discussed the problem of the lack of quarries in Ziguinchor. "In reality, we don't have any quarries in Ziguinchor. We don't have space for a quarry in Ziguinchor. What's happening is small plots of land that landowners give us, because we have depths of less than a meter, most of them, and on irregular surfaces of about 5,000 m² at most," according to Mr. Diallo.

In the process, he requested support from the authorities to move towards the regularization of careers and to have regulatory careers that comply with legislation.