AFRICAN BUZZ
development through mutually benefi cial partnerships with
Japan, Ramaphosa told participants.
“The STS forum has successfully changed global discourse on
the role of science in development, we seek the forum’s support
in changing the discourse on the role of Africa in science and
innovation,” Ramaphosa concluded.
The Bank has supported the establishment of ICT digital parks
in Senegal and Cape Verde and is working with the Rockefeller
Foundation, Microsoft, Facebook, LinkedIn and Safaricom to
establish coding centres in several countries.
Adesina off ered some key areas to prioritise in science and
technology, including the establishment of regional centres
of excellence; the urgent need to increase the share of GDP
devoted to science and technology and close the gender gap in
higher education.
“Let’s be visionary. Let’s be bold. Let’s support concrete
initiatives to boost science, technology, and innovation in
Africa,” Adesina concluded.
SOUTH AFRICA:
NEW DRILL FOR KUMBA
Anglo American’s Kumba Iron Ore and South African-based
drilling services provider, Rosond, have entered into a R2-billion
multi-year agreement, to develop and implement the next
generation drilling contract.
The agreement follows an exhaustive process undertaken by
Kumba as part of the initiative to modernise its geoscience
operations and extend the life-of-mine of Kolomela and Sishen
mines, to elevate safety standards, and improve productivity.
According to Themba Mkhwanazi, CEO of Anglo American
Kumba Iron Ore, the partnership will contribute toward the
development of small-micro medium enterprises in the
host communities of Postmasburg and Kathu. Rosond has
committed to partner with a local Broad-Based Black Economic
Empowerment company to develop a fully independent drilling
company in the Northern Cape. In line with ensuring gender
diversity and inclusion, Rosond has further committed to the
skills development and advancement of female employees in
the fi eld of drilling.
Rosond has been involved in the research and development of
the ‘next generation’ drill rigs for more than fi ve years.
"The technology we're bringing is available in various disciplines.
What we have done is to package and tweak it into a formula that
we believe works in this drilling environment – that we believe
works for our clients. The drilling space has always been seen as a
dirty type of hard work, but it does not have to be that way. It can
be really sophisticated," says Ricardo Ribeiro, MD at Rosond.
As part of the deal, Rosond is set to roll out 30 advanced
drilling rigs beginning in mid-January 2020, as it introduces
www. africanmining.co.za
African Mining Publication
Adesina shared insights on the Bank’s work and support to
train and develop the next generation of scientists. Since
2005 the Bank has provided fi nancing of over USD2-billion to
support education, resulting in educational opportunities for
6 million students.
Kumba Iron Ores’ Kolomela mine in the Northern Cape Province of
South Africa.
a level of technology that will make South Africa world-class
industry leaders in the drilling space. Anglo American Kumba
Iron Ore will have one of the most advanced drilling fl eets in
operation globally.
"We felt that Kumba Iron Ore strongly prioritised these
considerations, and that they were therefore the right company
for us to partner with in delivering these innovations into the
fi eld. I don’t think any drilling company could do this without
collaborating with a big mining company, so we really appreciate
Kumba Iron Ore's foresight in buying into our vision. Their input
makes this great stride forward possible," says Ribeiro.
ZIMBABWE:
RUSSIA EXPANDS AFRICAN
INFLUENCE
Russia has signed several mining agreements with Zimbabwe as
they expand their infl uence into Africa.
According to Zimbabwean information minister, Monica
Mutsvangwa, new deals concern key sectors such as energy,
mining, tourism, health, agriculture, and media. Six of the
agreements target the mutual protection of classifi ed
information, cooperation in the fi eld of geological exploration
and mineral resource management; cooperation in platinum
group metals, cooperation in the fi eld of diamond exploration
and mining and cooperation in the fi eld of energy.
Several Russian companies will also supply civilian passenger
and training aircraft, KAMAZ trucks of diff erent ranges, rail
freight wagons, agricultural and power engineering equipment
and waste-to-energy plants to the African country.
While the programmes seek to lift Zimbabwe out of the current
economic crisis, they come at a time Russia plans to reinforce
its footprint in Africa to withstand competition from China and
the USA.
“A number of agreements were discussed and concluded,
but they have been reserved for signature in October at the
upcoming Africa-Russia summit in Russia,” says Sibusiso Moyo,
the Zimbabwean Foreign Aff airs Minister.
Source: Moutiou Adjibi Nourou for Ecofi n Agency
African Mining
African Mining November 2019
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