The African mining industry’s ability to be responsive to market disruptions currently experienced in the world would determine its success, said Johan Coetzee, director of mining and metals at dss Consulting.“Mining companies will have to be more resilient than ever before. Just as important will be their ability to balance that resilience with an accelerated transition to more sustainable mining,” he said. “The delivery of enough energy and infrastructure in this accelerated demand for minerals will be determining factors. It will either be a major threat or pave the way for significant development of the Africa resource base.”David Thornton, senior vice president at Newmont, said with Africa holding 30% of global mineral reserves, there was no denying the significant opportunity for development on the continent, but it needed to address its challenges. “Investors still need stable conditions. Mining investments are highly capital-intensive and take place over a long period of time. It needs stability for those extended periods. In Africa, geology has been proven. Reducing the risk is now the critical factor.”He said governments had one opportunity to grab the commodity boom coming their way or face the real risk of missing out on it completely.“Countries need to deliver risk-free environments. Safety is one of the elements, as is fiscal stability.”According to Natascha Viljoen, CEO of Anglo American Platinum, partnerships are important.“We need to collaborate to bring technologies to Africa that will bring the necessary stability,” she said.
