Stiffer measures to cut raw mineral exports and boost value addition topped talks among African ministers of mining at the ministerial roundtable held to flag off the annual Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) in Abuja on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

The measures include an upward review of licence fees, royalties and charges, support for indigenous miners, and value addition as a condition for licences.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who chairs the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), urged member-countries to ensure control of their mineral resources, leveraging the global shift to green energy to maximise the benefits of its mineral resources.

Alake emphasised the summit’s role in fostering dialogue, sharing knowledge, and strengthening the AMSG’s focus on value addition for rapid economic development.

The minister also highlighted the importance of Africa judiciously exploiting its natural resources and effectively utilising the generated revenue for the benefit of the citizens.

He said: “The Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) is another opportunity to further consolidate our ideas and put them in motion towards attaining our stated objectives.

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“I hope that at the end of our deliberations, Africa will know and recognise our seriousness. We are confident that through the support of ministers here present, we can get the endorsement of our heads of state for necessary policy actions.”

In his remarks, AMSG Secretary-General Moses Engadu from Uganda said the event provided a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and offering policy guidance for transformative actions toward sustainable development.

Leading a cross-section of ministers in presentations, the Malawian Minister of Mining, Monica Chang’anamuno, called for concrete plans for infrastructure development, critical for mineral resource development, and advocated for collaboration based on comparative advantages among African countries.

Chadian Deputy Minister of Petroleum, Mines and Geology, Oumar Moussa, proposed the creation of an African fund for exploration, development of continental expertise in the mining value chain, and centres of excellence for innovation and clean technologies.

Other speakers emphasised the need for commitment to agreements and enhanced collaboration to harness the continent’s natural resources for shared prosperity.

Countries represented at the event included Nigeria, Uganda, Malawi, DR Congo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Liberia, and Chad.

The Star