The African Union (AU) is to launch an African Minerals Development Centre so as to ensure that African governments are better equipped to negotiate better mining and exploration terms and contracts. AU chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma told last week’s Junior Indaba, in Johannesburg, that the aim of the centre and the mooted African commodity strategy would be to change mindsets towards doubling mineral beneficiation from 15% to at least 30%. Envisaged is the creation of seven-million jobs on the continent in the first year of implementation. To implement the strategy, investment was needed in skills related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.