Welcome to 2025! As I write this column, I am preparing to attend my 12th African Mining Indaba. The theme for 2025 is “Future-Proofing African Mining, Today!” This is built on four pillars, all worth interrogating...
Mining Indaba
Digging deeper: Future-proofing African mining beyond the surface
In 2024, "positive disruption" was all the rage at the Mining Indaba. The event's 2025 theme of "future-proofing African mining today!" introduces a new dimension to the conversation: what does it mean to create a...
Mining’s flourishing depends on democratic strengthening
The 30th Invest in African Mining Indaba was held in Cape Town this week. It is no secret that Africa is abundantly blessed with mineral resources. It is, similarly and sadly, no secret that in too many contexts on the...
Zimbabwean project a chance to transform Africa’s mining sector
Africa’s mining sector must institute critical reforms if it is to avert the deepening of the resource curse. Increasing global demand for “development” or “critical” minerals and transition fuel sources (such as...
A very presidential SONA speech, but no accountability
In his biography on Cyril Ramaphosa, Prof Anthony Butler memorably remarked that not many of the president’s speeches had been memorable. Ramaphosa’s most recent state of the nation address (Sona), delivered on...
Is ESG the latest acronym or could it change mining substantively?
Taking environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance seriously is the key to securing a truly sustainable supply of critical raw materials required for the energy transition. The dust has barely settled on the...
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