This year the Investing in African Mining Indaba, which takes place from February 5 to 8, in Cape Town, will celebrate its 30-year anniversary.

Under the theme ‘Embracing the power of positive disruption: A bold new future for African mining’, the event will focus on conversations centred on change and the disruption needed to move the African mining industry forward.

The main stage discussions titled ‘Voices of Disruption’ will feature speakers from some of Africa’s most notable mining companies and associations on how they are bringing positive change and disruption to the industry, South Africa and the African continent.

Headline speakers include Anglo American CEO Duncan Wanblad; Rio Tinto Minerals CEO Sinead Kaufman; Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane; Eurasian Resources Group CEO Benedikt Sobotka; Newmont Corporation CEO Tom Palmer; and Barrick Gold Corporation CEO Mark Bristow.

Other notable disruptive discussions include a panel which will look at Africa’s exploration pipeline and why this is so empty. Speakers on this panel include Junior and Emerging Miners Leadership Forum chairperson, Orion CEO and Minerals Council board member Errol Smart; and Ivanhoe Mines president and CFO Marna Cloete. It will be moderated by ICMM CEO and president Rohitesh Dhawan.

Another key disruptive session, which will be moderated by Mthenjane, will provide insight into the security of critical mineral supply and will consider the role of China, the West and Africa.

Mining Indaba has always attracted strong representation from mining ministers, government representatives and investors, both locally and internationally, with this year’s event hosting Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe as one of the speakers.

“We will have strong representation from international governments and investors including the US, Europe, Saudi Arabia, India and more, all contributing to their ideals for supporting the development of critical minerals industries in Africa. Importantly, our discussions will explore how Africa can best utilise its own minerals while still contributing towards global needs,” Mining Indaba portfolio director Eve Harper says.

Other headline speakers who have confirmed their attendance are Kumba Iron Ore CEO Mpumi Zikalala; Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman; Seriti Group CEO Mike Teke; Gold Fields CEO Martin Preece; Glencore Democratic Republic of Congo and KCC chairperson Marie-Chantal Kaninda; Vedanta Base Metals CEO Christopher Griffith; Vale Base Metals chairperson Mark Cutifani and Minerals Council President Nolitha Fakude.

“Our 2024 theme aims to completely elevate the audience experience for our panel discussions and all content elements within our programmes. To support this, our main stage has been rebranded ‘Disruptive Discussions’ to further emphasise our content objectives.

“Our priority is for our panellists to move away from typical corporate messaging and start engaging on real challenges in mining to find solutions – in other words, showcasing how they are disruptive in the industry. Smaller panels, with more engaged and participatory moderators will deliver transparent and meaningful conversations that the audience can connect with and learn from,” Harper adds.