The African mining Ministerial forums at the Investing in African Mining Indaba are a critical component of the event’s programme, as delegates are provided with a first-hand impression of the mining Ministers of the particular countries in which they might consider investing.

Delegates attending the event in Cape Town from February 4 to 7 want input from the respective Ministers on topics such as policy drivers, economic development plans and what is being done in their respective countries as regards their mining policy, says Mining Indaba group marketing director Maria Palombini.

One such Minister is South African Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, who will, amongst others, deliver the official welcoming address at the Indaba.

Currently, the programme includes a two-day, four-part African Mining Ministerial Forum hosted by the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Japan Oil, Gas & Metals National Corporation and the South African Development Community.

Invited African Ministers include those from Ethiopia, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Tanzania, Gabon, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Uganda, Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria.

Ethiopia’s main mineral export is gold, but the mining of kaolin and the small-scale artisanal mining of precious metals, dimension stones like limestone and marble, as well as gemstones, salt, industrial metals and construction materials, are also prominent activities of the country.

The Minister of Mines for the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is Sinknesh Ejigu.

Zambia is recognised as a major producer of copper and cobalt. The country has significant quantities of selenium and silver, as well as minor gold and platinum-group elements, which are produced as important by-products of copper mining and processing.

The country’s Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development is Yampwa Mukanya.

Burkina Faso’s largest export after cotton is gold. The country’s main resources include manganese, bauxite, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, limestone and marble.

The country’s Minister of Mines and Energy is Salif Kabore.

Diamonds and rutile play major roles in Sierra Leone’s mineral production. The country’s main resources also include diamonds, gold, rutile bauxite and platinum.

The Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources is Alhaj Minakailu Mansoray.

Major ores extracted in the DRC include cobalt, diamonds, gold and copper. The Mining Minister is Martin Kabwelulu.

Ghana’s main mineral export is gold. The country also has large-scale companies producing diamonds, bauxite and manganese.

Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources is Mike Allen Hammah.

Diamonds, gold, gemstones and nickel are important factors in Tanzania’s growing minerals industry. The country’s Minister of Energy and Minerals is Professor Sospeter Muhango.

Gabon is a major petroleum and manganese oxide producer. The country also produces minor amounts of gold, uranium and diamonds.

Gabon’s Minister of Industry and Mines is Regis Immongault.

Botswana is home to major diamond deposits, as well as copper, nickel, cobalt, gold, soda ash, uranium and coal deposits that are being developed and exploited.

The country’s Minerals Minister is Dr Panatshego Kedikwilwe.

Malawi has either existing or potential heavy mineral sands, bauxite, phosphate, uranium and rare-earth element deposits. Its Minister of Energy and Mining is Dr Cassim Chilumpha.

Lesotho is known for its diamond mining and its Minister of Natural Resources is Monyane Mololeki.

Currently, most of Mozambique’s mineral output is from gold, bauxite and graphite. The country has projects under construction or that are in the feasibility stage, which are focused on heavy mineral sands, coal and natural gas.

Mozambique’s Minister of Mining and Mineral Resources is Esperança Bias.

Uganda’s mineral potential remains largely untested, owing to little exploration to date, but has the potential to host gold, tantalite, copper and cobalt. Exploration projects by government are under way.

Gold is mined in the country by artisans and on a semicommercial level. Uganda’s Minister for Minerals is Peter Lakeris.

Mauritius’ mineral resources include sand, stone, lime and salt, as well as iron, manganese and cobalt. The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development is Devanand Virahsawmy.

Côte d’Ivoire focuses on gold for most of its foreign investment. It has a broad commodity base, with underdeveloped iron-ore, bauxite, nickel, manganese and tantalite resources.

The country’s Minister of Mines, Energy and Petroleum is Mannet Leon.

Nigeria’s mineral development has been highly focused on its oil industry, although it does have significant coal and iron reserves, as well as gold, uranium, tantalum and rare- earth showings.

The Minister of Mines is Musa Mohammed Soda.