Gov’t To Utilize Cloud Technology In Ben-Ben Town Mining Dispute

The longstanding mining dispute in Ben-Ben Town and its environs may soon reach resolution as the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) announces plans to employ cloud technology through UTM-Coordinates to determine rightful ownership of the contested mining pit.
Following a day-long engagement with residents and stakeholders, the Ministry’s Deputy Minister for Operations, William Hines, stated that a technical team would be dispatched to verify scientific data from two submitted mining licenses.
Using advanced mapping technology integrated with Google Maps, the team will analyze UTM-Coordinates to establish the legal owner of the disputed site.
In addition to deploying cloud-based verification, Deputy Minister Hines informed community members that the government would conduct a re-survey of the meets and bounds outlined in the two licenses presented at the March 30 meeting.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure a transparent and lasting resolution to the conflict that has troubled the region for months.
The dispute, which has led to violent clashes resulting in two fatalities, multiple injuries, and significant property damage, prompted the Ministry to impose a moratorium on mining activities in November 2024.
The economic impact of this restriction led concerned citizens of Ben-Ben Town to petition the Ministry for intervention during a March 23, 2025, meeting with Minister Wilmot Paye and his team.
Deputy Minister Hines’ fact-finding delegation included Assistant Minister for Mines Carlos Edison Tingban, Deputy Inspector-General Adolphus Gleekia, Mining Agent Henry Yates, and experienced Inspector Jerry Zayzay, among other technical experts from the Ministry.
With the Ministry’s commitment to scientific verification and fair resolution, residents of Ben-Ben Town now await the findings of the technical survey, which could provide the final word in settling the contentious mining rights battle.