The Kenya Fluorspar Company has not closed shop in Kenya but has only scaled down operations, Mining Cabinet secretary Dan Kazungu has said. Last June, the factory suspended operations citing weak global demand. The company, in Kerio Valley, suspended its processing operations on April 30, due to “the weak global demand for fluorspar and the commodity’s depressed prices”, raising fears of economic downturn. Yesterday, Kazungu confirmed the private mining firm has laid off 204 workers, but retained 109 employees as it tries to clear stock. The CS said the company’s key customers in Germany, Italy and India had reduced orders, hurting its sales, forcing the company to mothball its plant.

Source: The Star May 10, 2016 20:45 UTC