Abundant and renowned for its quality in southern Madagascar, mica remains poorly remunerative for small-scale miners. Faced with prices deemed too low and the persistence of the informal sector, the State intends to reorganize the industry and better valorize this mineral resource.
During a visit to the Anôsy region, the Minister of Mines and Strategic Resources, Carl Andriamparany, met with various stakeholders in the mica sector. Exporters, processors, and small-scale miners discussed the difficulties encountered in marketing the ore and ways to improve income at the source.
In the producing areas of the South, mica is an important activity for many artisanal miners. However, the income derived from this activity remains low compared to the labor required for extraction, sorting, and preparation. Stakeholders are calling for change, particularly through better remuneration for the product at the source.
Informal exploitation is among the main difficulties identified. The lack of permits and the lack of organization in the sector have favored the proliferation of intermediaries and certain speculative practices. For the State, regularization is an essential lever to clean up the sector and improve the marketing of mica.
Since May 2026, small-scale miners have been able to apply for a PREA permit, designed to better structure artisanal mining. The resumption of mining permit issuance also opens up new prospects for operators wishing to work within a legal framework. The system provides for various titles, including exploration and exploitation permits.
Beyond regularization, the challenge also lies in the valorization of Malagasy mica. China and India have significant expertise in transforming the ore into materials used in various manufacturing industries. This mastery allows them to play a major role in the international market.
Madagascar is therefore seeking to strengthen the value added locally. The goal is not to limit the sector to the extraction and export of raw ore, but to further develop processing activities so that a larger share of the income remains in the country.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-26 05:39:07 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/minerais-letat-reorganise-la-filiere.html