COMMENT • sharyn @ interactmedia . co . za

Sharyn Macnamara - Stafff writer •

According to the IMF , growth in sub-Saharan Africa is set to drop to 3.8 % in 2022 , from 4.5 % in 2021 , driven by surging oil and food prices alongside global inflationary pressures – hitting the poor hardest . Having just returned from the Investing in African Mining Indaba held from 9-12 May in Cape Town , I can however report that the excitement and positivity in the air was almost tangible as the mining sector , African governments and global investors networked to find opportunities and solutions with a ‘ win-win ’ end result for all – business and our most precious resources , our communities and our environment .

Our June issue focuses on exactly this kind of technology in our first of a series of articles on Digitalisation in Mining and how autonomy continues to revolutionise the global mining space ; while part 4 of our Stemming fatalities in South Africa series shows how Exxaro has proved that some mining companies are well on their way to achieving the goal of “ Zero Harm ”; and I interview Edith Kikonyogo in her role as ABB ’ s Local Division Manager for Energy Industries in Southern Africa .

Going forward , watch this space – both online and in our issues to come – as African Mining shares some of the discussions had this year at the Mining Indaba with our readers over the next few months .

The presidents of South Africa , Zambia and Botswana were all present . Lauding the mining industry for having buoyed their economies during the pandemic , they all declared their countries “ open for business ” and re-iterated commitment to working with the private sector to grow their economies , with a special focus on a JUST transition to renewable energies and ESG ( Environmental , Social and Governance ) principles – leaving no one behind . And all of this supported by the rapid evolution of technology – electrification , automation , digitalisation and hydrogen solutions were the order of the day as suppliers of these technologies took the industry through their benefits to safety , productivity and the environment !

© African Mining

Africa is open for business ! Left to right : H . E . Jean-Nichel Sama Lukonde Kyenge ( Democratic Republic of Congo ), H . E . Hakainde Hichilema ( Republic of Zambia ), H . E . Cyril Ramaphosa ( Republic of South Africa ) and H . E . Mokgweetsi Masisi ( Republic of Botswana ).

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