highlighting the potential the continent has in being central to the global clean energy industries. He urged the audience to prioritise discussions around strengthening mining value chains and enhancing beneficiation, before touching on his own Government's efforts for developing the sector, with solving the power challenges the top priority. After this speech, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema also elaborated on his own country's efforts within this space, drawing particular attention to its designs to encourage diversification through its mineral exploration exercise and commitment to making Zambia a reliable investment partner of choice. The Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, further made note of this and highlighted the investment opportunities in his country. Meanwhile, the starting pistol on the technical panel sessions was fired by Fabiana Di Lorenzo, senior director of impact, innovation and credibility at the Responsible Minerals Initiative, who hosted an intriguing discussion around whether Africa can play a meaningful role in the emerging market and the value the continent can contribute to industrialisation. Topics such as this were fully scrutinised across the conference, with the final day largely dedicated to the future in the form of the Young Leaders in Mining Programme. The final session of this was led by Mustak Ally, head of skills development at the Minerals Council of South Africa, and considered the changing nature of work in line with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the increasing pace of digitisation and automation. The panellists professed the onset of Covid had driven these to the fore and this has created fresh concerns Image Credit: Alain Charles Publishing Albert du Preez, head of TOMRA Mining, was in Cape Town to launch the company’s new deep learning solution for high-capacity ore sorting. MINING INDABA MARCH 2024 | AFRICAN REVIEW OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY www.africanreview.com 46 Technology advancements must be embraced and it is in the nature of the industry to adapt and progress.”