Mining

Mali is Africa's second-biggest gold producer (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Canadian mining group Robex has signed a new agreement with Mali to operate its Nampala gold mine

The company has been operating the mine since 2017, but the new agreement reflects changes to the West African country’s mining code. The new rules compel international firms to pay higher taxes and also to hand over bigger shares in assets to the state, moves which have ruffled feathers among foreign investors.

Mali is Africa’s second biggest gold producer.

In a statement, Robex managing director Matthew Wilcox said that he was grateful for getting the new deal over the line.

“I would like to thank their excellencies, the Minister of Mines, the Minister of Economy and Finance and all the parties involved for constructive discussions over the past few months, and we look forward to working alongside the government,” he said.

However, last September, the company had indicated that it was ready to sells its Nampala asset but had not received any acceptable offers.

Mali's Council of Ministers also released a statement this week stating that the company was now looking to produce 1.4 tons of gold per year for a period of eight years.

“Geological research carried out by the company has identified a deposit with mineral reserves estimated at 17,351,000 tons with a gold content of 0.70 grams per ton,” it stated. The statement added that the government had signed a memorandum of understanding with the company in September that allowed Mali to increase its stakeholding in the Nampala project, entitling the state to priority dividends.

The Nampala mine in southern Mali is approximately 300 km south of the capital, Bamako. The open-pit mine uses conventional surface mining techniques and process to recover gold. The mine is excavated using a conventional truck and shovel operation.

The widest equipment used by the contractors is a Caterpillar 773B haul truck, matched with a 385 hydraulic excavator.

Nampala first reached commercial production in January 2017, with output rising rapidly on the back of exploration work, eventually hitting peak production at 8047tpd in mid 2022.

But other mining groups, such as Barrick Gold, have yet to reach a successful resolution with the Mali regime following the change in rules. In a 12 February statement, the company stated that “ongoing issues in Mali remain an investor concern” and acknowledged that this had dragged on share prices. Barrick’s chief executive Mark Bristow told Reuters in an interview that the company still hopes to restart operations at its shuttered Loulo-Gounkoto mine as soon as local authorities allow it to resume gold shipments.

Barrick Gold is the largest single investor in Mali’s gold mining sector.

 Read more: Barrick's commitment to Mali's mining sector

Sandvik Rock Processing pilots its Remote Monitoring Service (RMS) in Africa, enhancing crusher efficiency, uptime, and sustainability. (Image source: Sandvik)

To address the increasing demand for remote monitoring of crushing operations, Sandvik Rock Processing is trialling its Remote Monitoring Service (RMS) in Africa 

At Electra Mining Africa 2024, Sandvik Rock Processing introduced RMS—a digital solution enabling remote oversight of crushing processes—signalling a new era of digital services for African mining operations.

“RMS is the latest addition to our suite of existing digital technologies,” commented Nils-Peter Ahlqvist, sales support manager of Africa & Latin America – Crushing Division at Sandvik Rock Processing. “It complements our ever-evolving Automation and Connectivity System (ACS) and SAM by Sandvik cloud-based digital assistant. RMS translates vast amounts of data acquired from Sandvik crushers into actionable recommendations, reducing operating costs and boosting productivity and sustainability.”

Optimising crushers with RMS

By analysing deviations in both crusher performance and machine health, RMS identifies issues and recommends corrective measures based on real-time data. This proactive approach enables customers to anticipate and resolve potential problems before they escalate, reducing operational disruptions.

Additionally, RMS enhances machine visibility, allowing operators to replace worn parts before they fail. Over time, the collected data helps identify frequently replaced components, ensuring that critical spare parts are always available, thereby preventing unnecessary downtime.

Mines leveraging RMS can achieve greater operational efficiency through continuous 24/7 data analysis, optimising equipment usage, and minimising unplanned stoppages. Increased uptime translates to improved machine utilisation, ultimately lowering the cost per hour of operation.

“In addition, the data gathered on crusher performance makes optimisation easier with the ultimate goal of enhancing business performance. The alerts, available 24/7, also help reduce high wearing of crusher components, which is detrimental to material consistency and has negative cost implications,” added Ahlqvist. 

Maintaining machines in peak condition not only improves cost efficiency but also reduces energy consumption, helping customers minimise their environmental footprint.

“Energy efficiency and sustainability have over the years become a key part of business decisions for mining companies, especially on the back of growing pressure for the industry to improve its sustainability performance. With RMS, we are bringing yet another set of advanced digital services to help the industry increase efficiency while reducing carbon emissions,” concluded Ahlqvist. 

Twiga oversees operations at the North Mara and Bulyanhulu gold mines. (Image source: Barrick Gold Corporation)

Barrick Gold Corporation has contributed over US$4.24bn to Tanzania’s economy since launching the Twiga joint venture with the government in 2019, injecting US$888mn in 2024 alone

Twiga oversees operations at the North Mara and Bulyanhulu gold mines.

During a media briefing, Barrick president and CEO Mark Bristow emphasised Twiga’s leadership in Tanzania’s extractive sector, highlighting job creation, local business support, and substantial community investments.

“We spent US$573mn on national suppliers and service providers last year, representing about 83% of our total spend in-country. Additionally, 75% of all our payments to suppliers and service providers went to indigenous companies, exceeding our target of 61%,” Bristow said.

Sustainable mining success?

With a strong commitment to local employment, 96% of Barrick’s 6,185-strong workforce are Tanzanian nationals, 53% of whom come from communities near the mines. The company invested over US$5mn in 2024 in potable water, healthcare, and education, bringing total community investments to US$15.8mn since Twiga’s formation in 2019.

Production guidance for Bulyanhulu and North Mara in 2024 exceeded 500,000 ounces, reinforcing the sites’ Tier One1 complex status. Additionally, both mines completed a full year without a Lost-Time Injury.

Buzwagi made significant strides in its closure plan, focusing on environmental management, water conservation, and vegetation maintenance. A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is also progressing, attracting investor interest, with one company already obtaining Export Processing Zone registration.

The Barrick Academy, established at Buzwagi in 2024, is making significant progress in developing talent. Focused on training foremen, supervisors, and superintendents, the academy has trained 1,700 individuals to date and is set to surpass its target of 2,800 trained personnel by the end of 2025.

Continued conversion drilling at North Mara and Bulyanhulu has replenished reserves, while exploration efforts have expanded Barrick’s footprint in the Nzega District. The company has secured over 2,000km² of new exploration areas to support long-term mineral reserve growth in Tanzania.

Twiga received multiple industry recognitions over the past year for its safety measures, employer excellence, environmental practices, and community engagement. In 2024, North Mara was named the largest economic contributor in Tanzania’s extractive industry and earned awards for occupational health and safety, corporate social responsibility, and compliance with local content regulations.

“Barrick’s work in Tanzania is a model for sustainable mining that balances economic, environmental, and social responsibility,” said Bristow. “The recognition we have received speaks to our commitment to excellence and the value we bring to our host countries.”

Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s senior executive vice-president at Mining Indaba 2025. (Image source: Afreximbank Group)

At the African Mining Indaba 2025 in Cape Town, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) urged African nations to take control of their natural resources, create employment opportunities, and establish industries that foster long-term prosperity

Addressing an audience of African leaders, policymakers, mining executives, and global stakeholders, the bank emphasised the need for strategic transformation in the continent’s mining sector.

Speaking at the ministerial symposium, Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s senior executive vice-president, underscored that Africa stood at a pivotal moment. He warned that the continent must choose between continuing to export its raw materials with minimal returns or implementing decisive measures to take ownership of its resources.

“While the global mining industry generated approximately US$1.7 trillion in revenue in 2023, Africa’s share of this wealth remains disproportionately low. Our continent extracts the raw materials that power the world’s industries, yet it is estimated that we retain as little as between 4% and 20% of the total value of our minerals due to minimal local processing and limited downstream development. The result? Lost economic opportunities, exposure to volatile commodity cycles and a persistent reliance on external markets for refined products derived from our own resources,” stated Denya.

“The choice is ours. The time to act is now. Let us work together: governments, financial institutions, investors, and industry players to build an Africa where mining is not just about extraction but about transformation, innovation and wealth creation,” remarked Denya.

Stronger collaboration

He highlighted that Africa possesses the necessary resources, market potential, and policy frameworks to evolve from a raw materials exporter into a globally competitive industrial powerhouse. However, he stressed that achieving this vision requires decisive action from all stakeholders. “Policymakers must implement clear, enforceable regulations that mandate local value addition and create investment-friendly environments. Private sector investors must step up with capital and technology to develop processing, refining, and manufacturing facilities.”

Denya called for a fundamental shift in Africa’s approach to mining, advocating for investment in refining, smelting, and advanced manufacturing rather than just extraction. “We must move beyond extraction and invest in refining, smelting and advanced manufacturing. African nations must increase local processing capacity for minerals such as bauxite, lithium, cobalt and iron ore,” Denya continued. 

He also stressed the importance of regional cooperation, noting that no single country can develop a complete mining value chain in isolation. He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key mechanism for strengthening intra-African mineral value chains and fostering cross-border collaboration. Additionally, he emphasised the need for capital investment in mining-related infrastructure, technology transfer, and workforce development.

“Our mining policies must also prioritise environmental, social and governance standards, ensuring that mining benefits communities rather than displacing them,” he added. He argued that such an approach would generate millions of skilled jobs for Africa’s youth, reduce dependence on volatile international markets, and boost intra-African trade.

Reaffirming Afreximbank’s commitment to Africa’s mining sector, Denya revealed that the bank had approved over US$1bn in financing for mining and mineral sector projects over the past three years. This includes funding for a bauxite processing plant in Guinea, support for the expansion of a manganese processing plant in Gabon, and working capital financing for a diamond company in Botswana.

Among other significant initiatives, Afreximbank is backing a petrochemical fertiliser plant in Angola, a titanium dioxide pigment plant in South Africa, and a feasibility study for a limestone processing plant in Malawi.

Denya also highlighted the role of the US$10bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, managed by Afreximbank’s investment arm, FEDA, in supporting businesses and countries adapting to the new trade regime. He noted that the bank’s efforts to harmonize standards and implement the Africa Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme would ease cross-border movement of minerals and mining equipment, addressing logistical challenges.

Additionally, Afreximbank is leveraging digital solutions such as the Africa Trade Gateway and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System to enhance market access and streamline transactions. These tools aim to maximise Africa’s mineral wealth for industrialisation, value addition, and economic resilience.

Denya also underscored Afreximbank’s efforts to overcome infrastructure limitations that impede industrial growth. He highlighted the bank’s collaboration with development partners in expanding industrial parks and special economic zones (SEZs).

One of the most groundbreaking initiatives under this framework is the DRC/Zambia Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing Special Economic Zones. This project is positioning Africa as a key player in the global energy transition by establishing battery precursor SEZs, enhancing the two nations’ competitiveness in the battery electric vehicle value chain.

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