The second yearly Junior Mining and Exploration Conference, which will run from November 5 to 7 at The Forum, in Bryanston, Johannesburg, will this year aim to further promote investment, development, growth and sustainability in the Southern African mining sector.

Focusing particulary on junior miners in the exploration phase and building on the success of the inaugural event in 2012, the 2013 conference, which is organised by conference and events provider Institute for International Research (IIR), is looking to create a platform for discussion of the latest opportunities and success strategies for junior- to mid-tier mining companies, while tackling real challenges in the industry.

“Junior- to mid-tier mining companies play an important role in exploiting the vast potential of the mineral sector in Southern Africa.  While there is no question about the gravity of the challenges that players in this sector face, there is also no denying the enormous opportunities that are waiting to be realised.

“Junior miners need to enhance the effectiveness of their exploration initiatives and extraction processes, while managing the challenges around investment, labour, legislation, infrastructure and nationalisation. The path is treacherous, but junior miners can navigate their way to success,” the IIR says.

Further, it states that the conference has been developed in close consultation with the primary market and covers everything from exploration to production, while also looking to solve key challenges relating to the global landscape, project management, environmental challenges and sustainability.

Junior miners will gain insight into how to successfully uncover investment opportunities and there will also be advice around capital raising for mining projects.

A significant part of the conference is dedicated to a discussion about the regulatory environment. “Given mining’s long horizons and large upfront costs, the industry is particularly sensitive to resource nationalism or anything that smacks of resource nationalism,” the IIR states. 

The line-up of industry speakers includes Sephaku Holdings CEO Dr Lelau Mohuba, Vantage Goldfields executive director  Dr Willo Stear and Wescoal CEO Andre Bojé.