From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Stiffer measures to curb raw mineral exports and boost value addition were the focus of discussions among African mining ministers at the Ministerial Roundtable, which kicked off the annual Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS).
A statement signed by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, outlined these measures. They include an upward review of licence fees, royalties, and charges, increased support for Indigenous miners, and mandatory value addition as a condition for obtaining licences.
Dr Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chair of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), urged member countries to maintain control of their mineral resources. He emphasized leveraging the global shift to green energy to maximize the benefits of Africa’s mineral wealth.
The minister highlighted the summit’s role in fostering dialogue, sharing knowledge, and strengthening the AMSG’s focus on value addition for rapid economic development. He stressed the importance of Africa judiciously exploiting its natural resources and effectively utilizing the generated revenue to benefit its citizens.
“The Africa Natural Resources & Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) is another opportunity to further consolidate our ideas and put them in motion towards attaining our stated objectives. I hope that at the end of our deliberations, Africa will know and recognise our seriousness. We are confident that through the support of ministers here present, we can get the endorsement of our heads of state for necessary policy actions,” Alake stated.
Alake urged his colleagues to emulate Nigeria by advocating for local content and mandating substantial Indigenous representation in mining operations.
“In Nigeria, we have a policy that we refrain from granting licences to foreigners wholly; there must be a Nigerian partner. This is a policy other African countries should adopt. Since the inception of AMSG, we’ve introduced initiatives like intra-Africa trade, and I believe that we cannot do this effectively without the active collaboration of our private sector, across the board,” the minister stressed.
The statement quoted Moses Engadu, Secretary-General of the AMSG, as saying the Roundtable, themed “Sustainable Development for Africa’s Natural Resources,” provides a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and offering policy guidance for transformative actions toward sustainable development.
Engadu announced the upcoming launch of the “Africa for Africans” initiative, aimed at driving innovative programmes for mineral resource development. He also revealed plans to establish the Africa Minerals Development Fund (AMDF), inspired by Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF).
“This fund will be championed by Nigeria and structured to assist local miners across the continent to access the required funding,” Engadu explained.
Malawi’s Minister of Mining, Monica Chang’anamuno, led a cross-section of ministers in presentations, calling for concrete infrastructure development plans crucial for mineral resource development. She advocated for collaboration based on comparative advantages among African countries.
The Chadian Deputy Minister of Petroleum, Mines and Geology, Oumar Moussa, proposed creating an African fund for exploration, developing continental expertise in the mining value chain, and establishing centres of excellence for innovation and clean technologies.
Other speakers emphasized the need for commitment to agreements and enhanced collaboration to harness the continent’s natural resources for shared prosperity.
Countries represented at the Ministerial Roundtable included Nigeria, Uganda, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Liberia, and Chad. Nigeria’s Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Abubakar Audu; Minister of State, Uba Maigari; and Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, were also present, along with other continental private sector players.