Visitors to the 2013 Investing in African Mining Indaba should recognise Africa as a promising mining exploration region owing to increasing mineral exploration opportunities across the continent, such as Angola, which is opening up for precious- base- and ferrous metals exploration after having been almost completely shut off for about 40 years.
The country has a huge land area – the same size as South Africa and twice the size of Mozambique and has hardy been explored with modern technologies.
Exploration opportunities also exist with regard to copper deposits in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo and iron-ore in several West African countries, such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Cameroon and others, states Sweden-based Raw Materials Group senior partner Professor Magnus Ericsson.
Ericsson notes that African countries are positioning themselves to benefit from a global increase in demand for minerals owing to growing populations and subsequent minerals and metals needs.
Funding for projects to meet these needs may be secured at this year’s Mining Indaba, which will take place in Cape Town from February 4 to 7.
The Indaba contributes to mining industry growth as it tackles common misconceptions about Africa by facilitating personal meetings and discussions between industry stakeholders to encourage investment.
Ericsson, who is also a professor of mineral economics at the University of Technology in Lulea, Sweden, will be a featured speaker at the 2013 Mining Indaba and will focus on exploration projects and trends in Africa.
“Exploration trends in Africa are an important indicator as they help potential investors assess opportunities and predict risks,” he asserts.