The African Mining Indaba 2024, or how to invest in the African mining sector, begins this Monday in Cape Town. This event, which brings together key players in the mining industry in Africa, will focus on metals, essential to ensuring the energy transition and green technologies.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), demand for lithium, cobalt and other key minerals could increase six times over the next 20 years. This demonstrates the growing importance of these resources in modern society.
Despite a decline in investment in mineral exploration in Africa in recent years, experts remain confident about the future of the sector. Indeed, the appetite for minerals essential to the energy transition should reverse this trend.
All players in the sector now attach primary importance to ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria, which are essential to mining development in Africa in good conditions.
For organizers, this year’s theme aims to encourage and support the change that Africa’s mining industry needs to progress. “Because the industry is still being disrupted, with advances in technology, health and safety, environment and exploration, we believe it is time to bring the real issues to light “agenda by identifying the real obstacles to investment and showing how they open up new opportunities”, specifies the organizers’ website.
The presence of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) should also be noted during this conference. The DRC is one of the world’s largest producers of green metals.
On the agenda, the latest information on the partnership between the DRC and Zambia aimed at facilitating the development of lithium batteries. This partnership will enable the manufacturing of batteries for electric cars.
With untapped deposits of cobalt, copper, diamond, gold and other minerals estimated at $24 trillion, the DRC occupies a leading position in the African mining industry.
This meeting comes at a time when mining safety is the center of attention. Recently, 11 miners were killed and 75 others injured in a platinum mine in South Africa.
This African Mining Indaba 2024 will therefore be an opportunity for sector players to discuss the challenges, opportunities and issues of the mining industry in Africa, while highlighting technological innovations, environmental sustainability and the socio-economic benefits that she can bring.