As the final day of the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2023 comes to a close, we give a roundup of updates on the event so far, which began on Monday 6 February.

With everything from debates, speeches, and industry innovation to awards, deals, and discussions, find out what’s been happening at the 2023 edition of Africa’s largest mining industry gathering.

On the agenda for the event were pressing issues and topics that included supply chain reindustrialisation, the green energy transition, technology adoption, security, and supply demand.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming post about the CA Mining team’s time at Mining Indaba 2023!

Updates from Mining Indaba 2023

Presidents discuss mining and economic advancement

On Tuesday 7 February, the Indaba played host to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and President of the DRC, H.E Félix Tshisekedi.

The two presidents sat to discuss strategies to grow their two countries’ economies through the mining industry, with Ramaphosa stating that mining has been the “bedrock of African economies for millennia” and is a critical aider in “development and industrialisation across the continent.”

He also said that there is a long way to go until Africa’s mining sector reaches its full potential, and also cited the current obstacles holding it back.

These are mainly power shortages, illegal mining, and logistical problems stemming from issues with rail and port services, which Ramaphosa says make for a less positive economic forecast for 2023.

However, he stated a plan of action to tackle these and other issues in order to pave the way for the growth of African mining.

Meanwhile, Tshisekedi emphasised the need for a focus on green metal exploration and announced the imminent commencement of new nickel and chrome exploration projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

ESG award winners announced

The Mining Indaba Sustainability Committee awarded several ESG awards in various categories to a number of organisations that had demonstrated an outstanding commitment to incorporating ESG into their companies’ frameworks and to sustainability. This year’s Mining Indaba has seen ESG being among many mining companies’ top priorities.

The winners included:

• Gem Diamonds Limited, winners of the Junior ESG Awards for Water 2023
  
  The British-based international company, which owns diamond mines in Botswana and Lesotho, was recognised for its dedication to water sustainability ensuring local communities living close to its mines have access to safe, clean water. This involves making sure of the quality of water leaving its mines, recycling water on-site, and more.
  
• Akobo Minerals, winners of the ESG Nature Award 2023
  
  Akobo Minerals is a Scandinavia-based Ethiopian gold exploration and ‘”boutique” mining company. It was acknowledged for its ESG-centred activities programmes, which its CEO states are on a “community, country and global level”.
  
• Bannerman Energy, winners of the Junior ESG Award for Community Engagement
  
  The Australian mining development and exploration company, which is a 95% stakeholder in the Entango uranium mine in Namibia, took the award for its Early Learner Assistance programme it offers in Namibia which is benefiting communities in the area.

Outgoing CEO of Eskom applauds coal-to-renewables initiative

André de Ruyter who recently resigned as Eskom’s CEO sat for a fireside chat on the second day of Mining Indaba with Roger Baxter, the outgoing Minerals Council South Africa CEO.

During the conversation, De Ruyter spoke of and commended a coal-to-renewables initiative by Seriti Green, a subsidiary of Seriti Resources.

Seriti Green, which is a 91% Black-owned and controlled South African company, is constructing a 900 MW wind farm that will be used in part to power Seriti Resources’ coal mines in an effort to lower the carbon footprint of Seriti’s operations.

Not only does this initiative work to decarbonise coal mining, but it does so while providing coal for Eskom’s power stations, which have been struggling for years to meet South Africa’s power demands.

De Ruyter and Baxter concluded in their discussion that greater power capacity is needed by the country, as has been the case for decades.

Sustainability Day

On Tuesday 7 February, Mining Indaba held a Sustainability Day, which involved talks on everything from sustainability governance to circular economy, communities, and more.

Women in Mining front and centre

Women in Mining UK and WIMSA have been at the Indaba and focused on celebrating the representation and achievements of women in the mining sector.

Various WIM100 women (individuals who have been recognised as globally inspiring women in the sector by WIM) have shown up as attendees as well as speakers.

The MD of Women in Mining UK, Stacy Hope, moderated an all-female panel at the Indaba that centred on enhancing the mining value chain through things like sustainable mines and the growth and retention of female talent in the mining industry.

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