Mining

Discussions at the launch event focused on sourcing gold from artisanal and small-scale gold miners. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

At the Dubai Precious Metals Conference 2024, the Africa Responsible Mineral Sourcing Initiative (ARMSI) was launched by the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) and partners

ARMSI aims to promote transparency, compliance, traceability, accountability, social responsibility, and sustainability within Africa’s minerals and mining sector. Ultimately, it will unite countries, industry, and civil society to help ensure that the continent’s mineral wealth positively contributes to its economic development.

The reveal was attended by a number of stakeholders including a range of African Ministers and officials responsible from Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Uganda; as well as representatives from central banks financial institutions, mining companies, refineries, traders, investors, civil society, and leaders from the global precious metals industry.

“The Africa Responsible Mineral Sourcing Initiative (ARMSI) is about redefining Africa's role in the global precious metals and critical minerals industry by ensuring that artisanal and small-scale miners-often the backbone of mineral production-become central players in responsible, ethical and sustainable mining practices,” remarked Moses Micheal Engadu, secretary-general of AMSG.

“The goal of ARMSI, an initiative of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group is to create a central gateway for responsibly sourced and ethically mined minerals from Africa to the global markets. ARMSI will build Africa's responsible mineral sourcing ecosystem shifting away from raw material exportation towards sustainable value-added industry development to foster local employment, stimulate economic growth and secure a competitive position for African minerals in the global market.”

African mining to support African development

At the launch event, the ARMSI roadmap was unveiled, emphasising the developing of Africa Responsible Mineral Sourcing Guidelines and a comprehensive Manual led by the AMSG. Sub-regional stakeholder engagement forums will be held across the continent as part of the roadmap in order to promote responsible sourcing practices and gather insights.

Ultimately, these initiatives will lay the groundwork for the launch of the Guidelines and Manual in May 2025. Countries, industry players and civil society organisations have been encouraged to contribute to this effort to ensure their voices are heard.

The first secured physical delivery of responsibly sourced gold and silver under the ARMSI will reportedly be completed by February 2025 and will be executed by the Africa Minerals and Metals Exchange (AMME), an initiative of the AMSG that aims to facilitate secure transactions, enhance market transparency, ensure traceability, certify compliance with regulatory standards and facilitate responsible sourcing of precious metals. The delivery will be completed with selected members of ARMSI and AMME.

The launch of the initiative was met with widespread support from attending ministers who reiterated their commitment to fostering responsible and sustainable mining. Fahnseth Buggie Mulbah, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy of the Republic of Liberia, commented, “Through the Africa Responsible Mineral Sourcing Initiative (ARMSI), we aim to strengthen compliance and transparency across the gold supply chain. I call upon all stakeholders-both locally and internationally-to ensure that gold sourced from artisanal and small-scale miners adheres to the required licenses, permits, and chain of custody systems. Let us work together under ARMSI to champion accountability, sustainability, and ethical practices in the precious metals sector.”

PVC ducting installed at a site. (Image source: UVSS)

Providing fresh air to underground workers, removing dust and noxious gases, regulating temperature, there are few aspects more critical to a modern mine than an effective ventilation system

With worker safety now one of the most paramount concerns of mining companies, it has never been more important for them to ensure an effective, well-planned underground mining ventilation system is in place.

Fortunately, there are a range of innovative equipment and service providers who are able to support mines as they seek to provide air flows in sufficient quantity and quality to ensure their workforce is safe. Take the likes of Unique Ventilation and Support Systems (UVSS), one of the largest ventilation manufacturing companies in Africa. With a client based across the continent – working with household names such as Anglo American, Goldfields, Sibanye, Impala, and more – UVSS boasts more than 85 years of experience in the sector, and is utilising this in its mission to become the market leader in Africa for the design, development, fabrication and supply of total integrated mining and industrial related ventilation systems, underground support and ancillary equipment.

African Review held a short Q&A with Jeremy Pettitt (JP), group - sales & business development manager at UVSS, to understand more about this vital service the company provides to the sector. Discover the full article in the November issue of African Review here

Eramet Grande Côte is aiming to reduce its CO2 emissions by 40% by 2035. (Image source: JUWI)

Eramet Grande Côte, a large producer of mineral sands, has partnered with JUWI Renewable Energies, an international renewable energy company, in order to develop an off-grid solar photovoltaic and battery storage solution to meet the needs of the Eramet Grande Côte mine in Senegal

Financing has been finalised for the project (to the tune of approximately US$32mn) which is aimed to reduce the mine’s reliance on heavy fuel oil in order to improve production stability and reduce the environmental impact of the site. This will be achieved through the delivery of a 20MW solar power project in conjunction with 11MWh battery energy storage that will, when completed, provide an expected 20% of the mine’s energy needs.

“The clean energy produced by this plant will contribute to improving Eramet Grande Côte's environmental performance,” remarked Frédéric Zanklan, CEO of Grande Côte Operations SA. “Our investment in this solar power plant project is in line with Eramet Grande Côte and Eramet's commitment to act for sustainable mining and to accelerate the decarbonization of our industry.”

Meeting mining's energy needs

Not only is this sustainable solution expected to reduce carbon emissions by 25,000 tonnes per year, but around 100 jobs are expected to be created during the construction and maintenance phases. It will also be counted among the largest off-grid hybrid installations in the West Africa country, demonstrating the feasibility of such solutions for meeting the energy needs of such a vital industry in the region.

“As part of our commitment to Africa’s clean energy transition, we are delighted to partner with Eramet Grande Côte on its first off-grid solar and storage project,” commented Richard Doyle, managing director of JUWI South Africa. “This is another step for JUWI in providing off-grid hybrid solutions to the mining sector and industrial-scale operations. Integrating renewables and storage into mining operations is critical to reducing carbon footprint and costs, while increasing efficiency, safety and resilience. Our experience in this area allows us to support the fight against climate change while driving economic growth.”

Earlier this year, Doyle spoke to African Review to share his views on the irresistible pull of renewables, especially in support of the emerging data centre market and the well-established mining industry. Click here to read the full interview.

The dedicated team to lead the expansion. (Image source: Atlas Copco)

Atlas Copco Group’s Specialty Rental Division has announced the expansion of its rental services into Africa led by a dedicated team to serve customers in the region

East Africa has been identified as the first phase of the strategic initiative with operations centred in Nairobi, Kenya. Rental equipment is sourced from rental specialist, Rand Air, which was acquired by Atlas Copco in 1999. Equipment is rented under the Rand Air brand in South Africa and as Atlas Copco Speciality Rental in region beyond southern Africa.

The expansion will be spearheaded by a dedicated leadership team comprising Rudi de Vry, business development manager for Africa; and Michaela Kock, business development support (both based at Rand Air Johannesburg), who will work with Muthee Maina, business development manager for East Africa, who operates from the Nairobi office.

According to de Vry, Atlas Copco has built a reputation as a prominent world-class brand across Africa and “it therefore made sound business sense to leverage this well-established presence by simply adding on premium quality rental services, managed by Atlas Copco Specialty Rental Africa, which is part of Atlas Copco’s Power Technique business area.”

Available air and power solutions

In line with the strategic initiative, Atlas Copco Speciality Rental will offer a comprehensive product lineup of air and power solutions tailored to effectively meet the demands of the region’s manufacturing, oil & gas, mining and geothermal sectors. “Our air rental portfolio comprises a range of high-pressure air compressors, including both oil-free and oil-injected models with capacities ranging from 1000cfm (25 bar) to 1200cfm (35 bar), alongside the PTS 800 oil-free medium-pressure diesel compressor,” explained Maina. He added that robust diesel generators serve the region’s power rental needs.

Maina also surmised that Atlas Copco Specialty Rental Africa will draw on the expertise of Atlas Copco Power Technique and Compressor Technique business areas that are based at Atlas Copco ACEA Nairobi Kenya, to service, maintain and repair rental units in East Africa. “This collaboration aligns with our objective of ensuring that our rental services maintain the high standards of excellence for which both Atlas Copco and Rand Air are renowned.”

“Once our rental services gain momentum in East Africa, we will set our sights on expanding further into North and West Africa,” continued de Vry, before adding that discussions are already in progress to collaborate with a potential reseller in a bid to enter the West African territory.