Following the trend set by China, Australian companies are gathering in Perth to show their wares with exhibition booths.

Their stated agenda is to angle for a greater scoop of the Africa's pots of gold, manganese, uranium, copper, silver and that rapidly dwindling resource, oil.

The largest gathering of Australian mining companies with exploration interests in Africa kicked off yesterday.

Over 1 000 delegates have descended on Perth to participate in the two-days of presentations, exhibitions and networking events.

Erasmus Shivolo, Namibia's mining commissioner in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, is billed to deliver his presentation today.

Alongside the Namibian delegation, government representatives from across the continent will be rubbing shoulders with chief executives, managing directors, chairmen, presidents and consultants of major resource companies in Australia and the rest of the world.

"This conference provides a unique opportunity for Australian mining companiesa to expand their exploration focus in Africa, as well as for African governments and miners to benefit from the world-class skills and technologies developed by our own industry," says Bill Repard, chairman of Australian firm Paydirt and who is also the conference organiser.

Australian mining and resources investment in Africa is estimated at more than US$15 billion.

The conference will cover "every aspect of mining in Africa from grass-roots exploration to established mines, political risk and incentives, to the continent's unique legal and operating environment".

Expectations are that synergies between companies will be spoken about and that possible agreements for future exploration will be discussed.

Mining concessions are expected to top the agenda of companies wishing to enter Africa as first-time explorers, and governments with strict regulations on foreign companies will be hard put to explain their policies.

Among the panoply of presentations, the World Bank's acting head of oil, gas and mining, Mamadou Barry, will speak today on the management of risk in mining projects.

Notably absent from the printed programme, which was released by Paydirt and public relations officer Kevin Skinner, is a slot for resources giant BHP Billiton, whose extensive mining operations in southern Africa are well known and widely written about.

As China continues to throw its weight around Africa, Australian firms will find it difficult to match the availability of foreign reserves that China is reputed to have.

At an estimated US$1.3 trillion, Beijing has an edge on most global companies to invest.

The new playground is clearly Africa.

Investments are clearly welcome but we should be asking the questions: At what cost? Who will be benefitting? The exploitation of any country's natural resources is a necessary activity that should be benefitting the people who live there.

Profits are not necessarily a measure of health and growth.

The people and the country's infrastructure must grow with existing and future investments, and this will be the loudest demonstration that the new scramble for Africa's mineral endowment is not a new imperialism.

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