African mining ministers push for stricter value addition rules
Tougher measures to curb raw mineral exports and promote value addition dominated discussions among African mining ministers during the Ministerial Roundtable that opened the annual Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) in Abuja on Tuesday.
The disclosure, made in a statement by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, emphasized the introduction of new regulations.
These include an increase in licence fees, royalties, and charges, support for local miners, and making value addition a prerequisite for mining licences.
Dr. Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chair of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), urged African countries to take control of their mineral resources and capitalize on the global shift to green energy.
He highlighted the summit’s role in promoting dialogue, knowledge sharing, and reinforcing the AMSG’s focus on value addition to drive economic development.
“As Chairperson of the AMSG, a forum of African Ministers of Solid Minerals/Mineral Resources, I stress the importance of Africa judiciously exploiting its natural resources and effectively utilizing the generated revenue for the benefit of its citizens,” Alake said.
He emphasized the need for African leaders to endorse necessary policy actions at the summit’s conclusion.
AMSG Secretary-General Moses Engadu from Uganda underscored the Roundtable’s theme, “Sustainable Development for Africa’s Natural Resources,” and its significance in exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and offering policy guidance for transformative actions.
Malawian Minister of Mining, Monica Chang’anamuno, highlighted the need for concrete infrastructure development plans, critical for mineral resource development, and called for collaboration based on comparative advantages among African countries.
In his remarks, 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 centers of excellence for innovation and clean technologies.
Speakers emphasized the necessity of commitment to agreements and enhanced collaboration to harness Africa’s natural resources for shared prosperity.
Dr. Alake advocated for local content in mining operations, urging other African nations to adopt Nigeria’s policy of requiring Nigerian partners in foreign mining ventures.
“In Nigeria, we refrain from granting licenses to foreigners wholly; there must be a Nigerian partner. This is a policy other African countries should adopt. Initiatives like intra-Africa trade can’t be effectively implemented without active private sector collaboration,” Alake asserted.
Secretary-General Engadu announced the upcoming launch of the “Africa for Africans” initiative, aimed at innovative programs for mineral resource development and the establishment of the Africa Minerals Development Fund (AMDF).
“This fund, inspired by Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), will be championed by Nigeria and structured to assist local miners across the continent in accessing required funding,” he stated.
The Ministerial Roundtable saw representation from 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, along with other continental private sector players, were also in attendance.
