FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A feasibility study is a detailed technical and economic evaluation of a project. It examines ore reserves, processing, and financial models to determine profitability. These studies, which follow global standards like JORC, are critical for attracting investment and obtaining licenses.

The Mining Charter is a policy framework in South Africa that promotes transformation, equity, and socio-economic development. It sets targets for black economic empowerment (BEE), ownership, and community development. Compliance is essential for companies operating in the country.

Junior mining companies are small firms focused mainly on exploration and early-stage development. They drive exploration for gold, lithium, and copper across Africa, often partnering with or being acquired by major companies once deposits are proven.

Mining requires various licenses (exploration, extraction) and permits (environmental, community agreements). Countries like Ghana and South Africa have strict frameworks ensuring environmental compliance and community consultation.

Resource nationalism occurs when governments seek greater control or revenue from resources through higher taxes, royalties, or state ownership requirements. This has been observed in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and the DRC, creating uncertainty but also increasing government revenue.

Africa’s top gold producers are Ghana (currently leading the continent), South Africa, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania. West Africa is a global hotspot thanks to prolific greenstone belts.

Copper is concentrated in the Central African Copperbelt spanning the DRC and Zambia. Additional production and projects are found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Growing infrastructure continues to attract investment.

Cobalt is essential for rechargeable batteries in EVs. Africa, especially the DRC, dominates global supply, producing the majority of the world’s cobalt, usually with copper. ESG compliance and responsible sourcing are central themes.

Key lithium hubs include Zimbabwe (Bikita, Arcadia), Namibia (Uis region), Mali (Goulamina), the DRC, and Ghana (Ewoyaa). These are primarily spodumene-bearing pegmatites, placing Africa at the center of the EV and energy-storage supply chain diversification.

Iron ore underpins steelmaking and industrialization. Africa hosts world-class deposits in Guinea (Simandou), South Africa, Mauritania, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Algeria. Rising demand from construction keeps African iron ore strategically important.

PGMs (platinum, palladium, rhodium, etc.) are used in catalytic converters and electronics. Africa’s supply is dominated by South Africa’s Bushveld Complex and Zimbabwe’s Great Dyke. PGMs remain critical to global decarbonization strategies.

Africa’s REE production and advanced projects are in Tanzania (Ngualla), Burundi, Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, Angola, and Madagascar. These deposits support magnets for EVs and wind turbines, positioning Africa as a strategic REE source outside Asia.

Nickel production centers on Madagascar (Ambatovy), Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa (often as a PGM by-product). Tanzania’s Kabanga is a globally significant nickel-sulphide project under development. Nickel’s role in batteries keeps African projects in the spotlight.

Major uranium exporters are Namibia and Niger, with projects at various stages in Malawi and historically in South Africa. African uranium remains key to global fuel supply as nuclear energy gains momentum.

Africa’s leading diamond producers are Botswana, Angola, the DRC, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, and Lesotho. Botswana’s Jwaneng and Orapa are among the world’s most valuable mines.

Tantalum is critical for high-reliability capacitors in electronics and aerospace due to its resistance. Africa’s supply comes primarily from Rwanda and the DRC, with contributions from Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. Responsible sourcing and traceability are central market requirements.

Global markets shape African mining via price cycles, EV demand, supply-chain shifts, and ESG finance. Rising demand for battery metals and copper supports project pipelines, while interest-rate trends, energy costs, and logistics influence investment timing and export revenues.

Africa is pivotal with cobalt (DRC), lithium (Zimbabwe, Mali), nickel, manganese, graphite, copper, PGMs, and rare earths. Uranium also supports low-carbon nuclear power. These resources are critical for global decarbonization strategies.

China is Africa’s largest buyer and financier of minerals, securing long-term offtake in cobalt-copper, bauxite, manganese, iron ore, and rare earths. Chinese firms anchor value chains from mine to refinery through equity stakes, JV partnerships, and infrastructure financing.

The purpose is to identify and evaluate mineral deposits that can be mined profitably. Exploration involves mapping, sampling, drilling, and testing to determine the size, grade, and economic potential of ore bodies. This process is essential due to the continent’s large, untapped reserves.

The main methods are Diamond Core Drilling (produces intact rock cores), Reverse Circulation (RC) Drilling (fast, cost-effective rock chip samples), Down-the-Hole (DTH) Drilling (for deep hard-rock), and Auger Drilling (for shallow soil and laterite).

Diamond drilling extracts intact cylindrical rock cores for structural and grade analysis, while RC drilling uses compressed air to bring rock chips to the surface, offering faster but less geological detail. Diamond drilling is preferred for advanced feasibility studies.

Core drilling is important because it provides continuous rock cores that reveal the geological structure, mineralization, and ore grade. Geologists use this data to prepare resource models, determine cut-off grades, and design mine plans, confirming economic viability.

Geologists use a combination of methods: geological mapping, geochemical surveys, geophysical surveys (magnetic/gravity), and exploration drilling (diamond or RC) to confirm subsurface mineralization. By combining surface studies with drilling data, they build models to locate economic ore bodies.

Geochemical surveys involve collecting and analyzing soil, rock, water, or vegetation samples to detect chemical anomalies indicating mineralization. They are a key, cost-effective exploration tool for narrowing down drilling targets in areas like gold exploration in West Africa and copper/cobalt projects.

A geophysical survey uses physical methods (magnetics, gravity, seismic) to detect subsurface mineral deposits, providing indirect data about rock density and conductivity. Airborne surveys cover large areas quickly, reducing exploration risk before expensive drilling begins.

The exploration phase can last anywhere from 3 to 10 years, depending on deposit size and regulatory approvals. Timelines are affected by initial mapping and sampling (1–3 years), followed by drilling, resource estimation, and feasibility studies (3–7 years), as well as infrastructure and government permitting.

The countries attracting the most exploration projects are Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, the DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. West Africa is a hotspot for gold, while the DRC and Zambia dominate copper/cobalt. Investment is driven by geological potential and supportive mining policies.

Risks include political/regulatory uncertainty, infrastructure challenges (lack of roads, power), security risks, environmental/community concerns (requiring strong ESG), and commodity price volatility. Companies manage these risks through due diligence and strong partnerships.

The biggest mining countries in Africa are South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Zambia, and Guinea. South Africa is a global leader in PGMs, gold, coal, and iron ore, while the DRC supplies over 70% of the world’s cobalt. Ghana is Africa’s top gold producer, and Guinea is the world’s second-largest supplier of bauxite.

The most important minerals are gold, copper, cobalt, diamonds, iron ore, bauxite, PGMs, lithium, uranium, and rare earth elements (REEs). Gold is Africa’s most widely mined commodity, and cobalt and copper from the DRC are critical for global electric vehicle batteries. Lithium deposits in Zimbabwe, Mali, and Namibia are gaining importance.

Mining contributes significantly, averaging 10–15% of GDP across the continent, but reaching much higher levels (around 20-25%) in resource-rich countries like the DRC and Guinea. The sector is Africa’s largest source of foreign exchange earnings.

Some of the biggest mining companies include Anglo American (PGMs, diamonds, coal), Glencore (copper and cobalt in DRC/Zambia), Barrick Gold (gold mines in Tanzania/Mali), Gold Fields (gold in South Africa/Ghana), Sibanye Stillwater (PGM), and Rio Tinto (bauxite in Guinea).

Main challenges include infrastructure deficits (railways, roads, energy), political and regulatory uncertainty (DRC, Tanzania, Zimbabwe), environmental and social issues (water scarcity, community conflicts), and lack of regulatory oversight for artisanal mining (ASM).

Africa offers opportunities driven by untapped reserves of critical metals (gold, copper, cobalt, lithium, rare earths, PGMs). Investment opportunities lie in infrastructure development and beneficiation, with stable countries like Ghana and Botswana offering supportive policies.

Mining has profoundly shaped Africa’s history and society for centuries. Discoveries like South Africa’s gold and diamonds fueled industrial growth, while today mining continues to support economic development, infrastructure building, and job creation across the continent.

Key hotspots include West Africa (Gold), Central Africa (Copper/Cobalt), Southern Africa (PGMs, Diamonds, Gold, Coal), East Africa (Gold, Rare Earths), and North Africa (Phosphates, Iron Ore).

The industry is adapting rapidly by scaling up exploration and production in the DRC (cobalt), Zimbabwe (lithium), and South Africa (PGMs). Governments encourage local processing, while investors partner with African companies to secure long-term supply chains for minerals essential to the green energy transition.

ASM provides livelihoods for over 10 million Africans. It is common in gold, cobalt, diamonds, and gemstones, but faces challenges including unsafe working conditions and environmental damage. Efforts are underway to formalize ASM and improve safety.

Mine ventilation ensures a safe working environment by supplying fresh air, removing dust, heat, and toxic gases, and maintaining oxygen levels. In Africa, deep-level mines in South Africa require advanced systems to manage extreme heat and air circulation challenges.

Main risks include rock falls, dust exposure, equipment accidents, explosions, tailings dam failures, and inadequate ventilation. In artisanal mining (ASM), risks include mercury exposure and child labor. Modern mines implement stricter regulations and PPE to minimize risks.

Companies control dust using water sprays, suppressants, enclosed conveyors, and road watering. This is critical to protect workers, communities, and the environment in open-pit gold and copper mines across Africa.

Mine rescue refers to specialized teams and procedures designed to respond to emergencies (fires, cave-ins). In Africa, it is particularly advanced in South Africa, where dedicated rescue stations support deep-level operations. Companies across the continent establish emergency response teams.

Technology improves safety through automation, remote monitoring, drones, AI-based hazard detection, and wearable sensors. In Africa, drones monitor tailings dams and sensors detect gas in deep mines, improving compliance and efficiency.

Open-pit mining is a surface method where large pits are excavated to extract minerals close to the earth’s surface. It allows for the bulk removal of ore using heavy machinery. It is the dominant method for gold, copper, iron ore, and bauxite across Africa.

Underground mining is used when ore deposits lie deep beneath the surface, accessed via shafts or tunnels. Techniques include block caving, cut-and-fill, and room-and-pillar. Africa is home to some of the world’s deepest underground mines, particularly in South Africa’s gold and platinum sectors.

Alluvial mining is the extraction of minerals, most commonly gold and diamonds, from riverbeds, floodplains, and sediments. Alluvial diamond mining in Sierra Leone, Angola, and Namibia is world famous, while artisanal miners use simple tools for alluvial gold recovery in Ghana and Mali.

ASM refers to mining conducted by individuals or small groups using limited equipment for high-value minerals like gold, cobalt, and diamonds. It provides livelihoods for over 10 million people but often operates informally, facing challenges such as unsafe practices and environmental impact.

Heap leaching is a low-cost process where crushed ore is irrigated with chemical solutions to dissolve metals (gold, copper, uranium). It is widely used in West African gold mines (Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana) and uranium projects (Namibia, Niger), especially attractive for low-grade ores.

Block caving is a large-scale underground method where ore is undercut at the base, causing it to collapse under its own weight. It is efficient for mining massive, low-grade ore bodies. It is gaining interest for deep copper projects in Zambia and the DRC.

Room and pillar mining is an underground method where ore is extracted in a grid-like pattern, leaving pillars of unmined rock for support. It is typically used for flat-lying deposits such as coal (South Africa, Botswana) and some manganese and salt operations.

Beneficiation is the process of improving the economic value of ore by removing impurities and upgrading mineral content before further processing. It is a key policy priority in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia to capture more value locally instead of exporting raw ore.

Flotation is a mineral processing method where chemicals and air bubbles are used to separate valuable minerals from waste rock. It is widely used in copper operations (Zambia/DRC), platinum mines (South Africa), and gold plants (Tanzania), being highly effective for base and precious metals.

A mineral processing plant transforms raw ore into valuable concentrates through crushing, grinding, concentration (via flotation, gravity), and sometimes smelting or leaching. Modern plants integrate tailings management and water recycling for sustainability.

Sustainability means balancing mineral extraction with environmental protection, social responsibility, and economic growth. It includes reducing emissions, conserving water, rehabilitating land, and ensuring local communities benefit from projects. African countries are enforcing stricter standards.

ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. It measures how companies manage environmental impacts, treat workers and communities, and ensure transparency. African projects face growing pressure from investors to meet these standards to access funding and maintain licenses.

African mines manage water through recycling, treatment plants, closed-loop systems, and careful monitoring to reduce consumption and contamination. In water-scarce regions like Mali, Namibia, and South Africa, efficient water use is critical.

Tailings management refers to the safe storage, treatment, and monitoring of waste materials left after mineral processing. It is critical in gold, copper, and uranium mines, with modern solutions including dry stacking and reprocessing of residual metals.

Companies engage through consultations, social development programs, employment, and transparent communication. In Africa, where many communities depend on mining for jobs, companies invest in schools, healthcare, and training. Strong engagement is key to ESG compliance.

Local content policies require mining companies to prioritize local employment, procurement, and skills development. Nations like Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania use these policies to keep more economic value within host countries.

African mines are addressing climate change by reducing emissions, adopting renewable energy (solar/wind), improving energy efficiency, and investing in carbon offset projects. This helps them remain competitive and sustainable.