The world over, countries are declaring and finding critical minerals needed to transition to green energy. Raw materials used in wind turbines, solar power plants and batteries are being spotlighted for exploration and development.
Green bridges are being built by northern hemisphere countries with southern hemisphere countries. Existing free trade agreements are being expanded to include green energy interchange. While this is growing in intensity internationally, South Africa, once the world’s most prominent mining country, is keeping out of sight.
It was investment exploration more than 100 years ago that led to so much mining and nonmining growth in subsidiary industries across the value chain and a myriad of mining-catalysed services – all of them collectively creating an enormous number of jobs. And it all began with exploration, funded from outside the country. So why this inaction and curious silence?