Keynote speaker: Fabian Shaanika

Investment in the mineral industry, encompassing green fields exploration and the extractive industry, is crucial for Africa's economic development. The continent boasts vast mineral resources that hold great potential for generating revenue, creating jobs, and driving technological advancements. However, there are various policy issues, legislations, potentials, challenges, governance concerns, and best practices that need to be considered in order to maximize the benefits of mineral investment in Africa.

Policy issues and legislations play a key role in creating a conducive environment for mineral investment. Governments need to establish clear and transparent regulatory frameworks that attract investors while safeguarding national interests, environmental sustainability, and social welfare. This involves defining exploration and mining rights, enforcing environmental and social responsibility, and promoting local content development.

Africa's mineral industry holds immense potentials, but there are challenges that need to be addressed. These include infrastructural deficiencies, inadequate access to financing, insufficient geological data, and technological limitations. Additionally, the sector often faces issues related to corruption, illegal mining, and lack of transparency. Overcoming these challenges requires robust governance mechanisms, capacity building, and collaboration between governments, industry stakeholders, and communities.

Best practices in the mineral industry involve adopting responsible and sustainable mining practices. This includes mitigating environmental impacts, respecting the rights and welfare of local communities, promoting fair and equitable benefit-sharing, and ensuring health and safety standards. Embracing technological advancements, such as digitalization and automation, can enhance efficiency and minimize environmental footprints.

To attract investment and maximize the benefits, Africa needs to improve its investment climate through stable regulatory frameworks, efficient administrative procedures, and fiscal stability. It is essential to foster partnerships between governments, industry, and communities to create a shared vision for sustainable mineral development.

In conclusion, investment in the mineral industry in Africa has immense potential to drive economic growth and development. Addressing policy issues, implementing effective legislations, harnessing potentials, overcoming challenges, ensuring good governance, and adopting best practices are crucial steps toward maximizing the benefits of mineral investment while minimizing social and environmental impacts. Collaborative efforts and long-term planning will pave the way for a sustainable and prosperous mineral industry in Africa.

ST11_S01- Geological characteristics of the critical metals and minerals

Conveners: Mary Barton

Africa possesses a diverse range of geological characteristics that host critical metals and minerals, playing a significant role in the continent's mineral wealth. These geological characteristics are often associated with various tectonic settings, such as ancient cratons, volcanic arcs, and sedimentary basins. For instance, the Archean cratons of Southern Africa are known for their rich deposits of platinum group metals (PGMs), including platinum, palladium, and rhodium. The Central African Copperbelt, located in the southern part of the continent, hosts substantial reserves of copper and cobalt. The Pan-African orogenic belts, stretching across North and West Africa, contain significant gold, tin, and tungsten deposits. Moreover, the Great Rift Valley, extending from East Africa to Southern Africa, exhibits potential for geothermal energy resources. The geological characteristics of Africa are diverse and complex, contributing to the continent's abundance of critical metals and minerals, which have economic, technological, and strategic importance globally.

ST11_S02- Mining taxation, fiscal policies and fiscal instruments

Conveners: TBA

Mining taxation, fiscal policies, and fiscal instruments in Africa are crucial tools for governments to manage their mineral resources effectively, promote sustainable development, and maximize revenue generation. African countries employ a range of fiscal policies and instruments tailored to their specific contexts and mineral sectors. These include taxes, royalties, and production-sharing agreements that aim to capture a fair share of mining profits. Additionally, governments may implement fiscal incentives to attract investment, such as tax holidays or reduced tax rates for exploration and development activities. The establishment of transparent and accountable fiscal regimes is a priority, ensuring that tax laws and regulations are clear, consistent, and effectively enforced. African countries also increasingly recognize the importance of leveraging mining revenues to diversify their economies, invest in social infrastructure, and promote local content development. By employing sound fiscal policies and fiscal instruments, African nations strive to strike a balance between attracting investment, maximizing revenue, and promoting sustainable and responsible mining practices for the benefit of their economies and communities.

ST11_S03- Mining and exploration financing and investment modalities

Conveners: TBA

Mining and exploration financing and investment modalities in Africa encompass a diverse range of strategies and mechanisms aimed at attracting capital and promoting sustainable mining activities. African countries, rich in mineral resources, employ various approaches to finance mining projects and support exploration efforts. Traditional methods include equity financing, where companies seek investment from shareholders or venture capitalists, and debt financing, involving loans or credit facilities from banks or financial institutions. Additionally, project financing, where lenders provide funding based on the project's revenue potential, is commonly used. Joint ventures and strategic partnerships are also prevalent, enabling collaboration between local and international companies to share risks and resources. African governments often provide fiscal incentives, such as tax breaks or exemptions, to attract mining investment. Public-private partnerships and development funds may be established to support infrastructure development and encourage responsible mining practices. Increasingly, the region has seen the emergence of impact and socially responsible investors who consider environmental and social factors in their funding decisions. These diverse financing and investment modalities contribute to the development of the mining sector in Africa, fostering economic growth, job creation, and responsible resource extraction.

ST11_S04- Opportunities for local content, downstream, upstream and sidestream linkages in the hydrocarbon industry

Conveners: TBA

The hydrocarbon industry in Africa presents significant opportunities for local content, downstream, upstream, and sidestream linkages. Local content refers to the participation and development of local businesses, workforce, and industries in the hydrocarbon value chain. African countries have recognized the importance of maximizing local participation and leveraging the industry's potential to create jobs, promote skills development, and boost economic growth. Downstream linkages involve the establishment of refineries, petrochemical plants, and distribution networks, enabling the processing and value addition of hydrocarbon resources within the region. This helps to diversify the economy, create additional employment opportunities, and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products. Upstream linkages focus on developing local capacity in exploration, production, and service provision, allowing African companies to participate in upstream activities and build technical expertise. Sidestream linkages involve the development of auxiliary industries, such as manufacturing equipment, supply chain management, and research and development, to support the hydrocarbon sector. This enables technology transfer, innovation, and the growth of ancillary industries that benefit from the hydrocarbon industry's presence. By fostering local content, downstream, upstream, and sidestream linkages, African countries can unlock the full potential of their hydrocarbon resources, promote economic diversification, and create a sustainable and inclusive hydrocarbon industry.

ST11_S05- Characteristics of the mining industry that drive investment decisions.

Conveners: TBA

Several characteristics of the mining industry in Africa drive investment decisions. Firstly, the continent is rich in mineral resources, including gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt, and various other metals and minerals. The abundance and diversity of these resources present attractive opportunities for investors seeking to capitalize on their value. Additionally, Africa's geological potential is still relatively untapped, with significant unexplored areas offering the possibility of new discoveries and untapped mineral deposits. Political stability and a favorable regulatory framework are also crucial factors. Stable governance, transparent policies, and clear mining regulations instil confidence in investors and provide a predictable operating environment. Infrastructure is another significant consideration, as efficient transportation networks, reliable energy supply, and access to water are essential for successful mining operations. Moreover, the local workforce and skills development are important factors. Investors look for regions with a skilled labor force or the potential to develop local talent through training and education programs. Environmental and social factors also play a significant role, as responsible mining practices and community engagement are increasingly expected by investors and stakeholders. Finally, market dynamics, such as commodity prices and demand, are considered when making investment decisions. Investors assess the potential for profitability and market growth, ensuring a favorable economic environment for their mining projects. By taking these characteristics into account, investors can evaluate the opportunities and risks associated with the African mining industry and make informed investment decisions.