First Mining Drc-Zambia Sep/Oct 2017 FMDRC-Zambia Sep Oct | Page 5

Mining
NEWS
Acute skills shortage
First Cobalt calls
hits Zambian
off alliance in
Congo to focus on mining sector
Canadian operations
CHAMBER of Mines says implementation of new projects is at risk in
Zambia and other mining countries around the world due to the
increasing shortage of speci c skilled and experienced people.
According to a latest report by the Chamber of Mines titled 'Searching for
First Cobalt is set to cancel the strategic alliance in seven cobalt talent-skills and employment in the global mining industry', the world's
exploration properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in mines are battling to attract skilled and experienced people.
favour of properties in Canada.
It stated the skills most in demand across the global mining industry as a
result of talent shortage are those critical to the daily operations of the
e company is expected to close its previously announced mergers mines.
with Cobalt One and CobalTech Mining later this year. “ey are largely technical, such as engineers, geologists, metallurgists,
rough the merger, the company is set to have access to a combined e report revealed that the immediate effect of the global mining skills
technicians, mechanics and artisans,” it stated.
land position of more than 10,000ha in the Cobalt Camp.
crunch is that mines in Zambia and other countries are
nding it
increasingly difficult not just to attract skilled people, but also to retain
According to the company, the opportunity to immediately begin work
them.
on several advanced exploration targets in the Cobalt Camp offsets the
potential in the DRC properties at present. “ere was a time when you could easily nd four to ve people to ll a
"e Canadian Cobalt Camp is emerging as one of the most Mines chief executive officer Johan Jansen is quoted in the report.
high-level position. Now you battle to nd just one,” Mopani Copper
prospective targets for cobalt exploration.”
e report, compiled by mining researcher Rob Gentle, cites three major
reasons for the global shortage of high-level mining skills.
First Cobalt president and CEO Trent Mell said: “Investors are very “e massive rise in global mineral production over the past 20 years,
supportive of our vision for the Canadian Cobalt Camp and we are mainly to meet rising demand in China, has drained much of the world's
aligned with their desire to focus on the bulk mining potential of this mining talent pool. Secondly, the industry is experiencing its biggest
district, located in the best mining jurisdiction in the world. retirement wave in many decades, with up to half of the people in key skill
categories nearing retirement.
“e Canadian Cobalt Camp is emerging as one of the most “In Canada, one of the world's largest mining countries, some 49,000
prospective targets for cobalt exploration. people will be needed in the next decade to replace retiring workers,” it
“e DRC remains very appealing geologically but the investment e report cited the third reason as harsh working conditions, remote
stated.
climate has deteriorated since the strategic alliance was announced and locations and long working hours that is making mining to be no longer
we have signi cantly expanded our footprint in Canada.” an attractive career option as it once was.
e company does not rule out the possibility of exploring cobalt graduates, with better work-life balance,” Barrick Lumwana general
opportunities in other parts of the world in future. manager Sam Ash is quoted in the report.
“e truth is there are more attractive industries out there for mining
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