Regional policy for base metals

DELEGATES from around the world have gathered in Windhoek to discuss ways in which to encourage investment in the mining of base metals in southern Africa.

Examples of base metals include iron, nickel, lead and zinc. Copper is also considered a base metal.Namibia mines zinc at Skorpion Zinc in the south, and copper at Ongopolo in Tsumeb.The objectives of the three-day seminar, which started yesterday, are to provide a vision for the region’s base-metal mining countries to assist in shaping up their mining policy and encourage foreign direct investment (FDI).It will also focus on improving the transparency of the mining industry and of governments in SADC, so as to attract investment.The seminar is organised by the Ministry of Mines and Energy in conjunction with the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) and the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC).Representatives of countries in the region will give presentations that will lead to the adoption of an action plan.The nine regional countries in attendance are Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and host Namibia, and these will be responsible for coming up with the regional mining policy.The region, which is rich in minerals and other natural resources, has become a prime choice for foreign investors, especially in the mining and minerals sector.Guidance and assistance will come from other officials at the seminar representing Australia, Japan, Mongolia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Portugal, United Kingdom, ILZSG and the CFC.”Combined with transparency and an adequate supply of information, [co-operation] gives investors confidence.Communication is also fundamental to the development of co-operative working within SADC,” states a report on the importance of cooperation.”Therefore there needs to be between governments, between governments and the private sector and between governments and local communities, an alignment purpose that will allow the mining sector to grow right across the region whilst considering the interests of all stakeholders.”Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mines and Energy Minister Erkki Nghimtina welcomed the concept, saying the conference would strengthen and revitalise the base metals industry.”The strategy for this conference is to increase competitiveness and the development of sustainable applications to help increase overall demand for the major minerals in the African Mining Belt.This strategy is indeed in alignment with the aspirations and the overall programmes of the African Mining Partnership,” he said.He added that the region should collectively take advantage of the current favourable prices of mineral commodities to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for the benefit of Africans.Said Nghimtina: “Radical changes in the global economic environment have resulted in intense competition between developing countries to attract foreign direct investment.Developing countries have embarked upon wide-ranging structural reforms to be more competitive.”Our Government recognises its commitment to the SADC region.The member states have agreed through a treaty to formulate common approaches to policies, strategies and programmes.”Namibia has a minerals policy in place endorsed by Cabinet in 2003, which sets out guiding principles and direction of the local mining sector.Seminar delegates will make field trips to Skorpion Zinc and Ongopolo Mining and Processing’s Tsumeb Copper Smelter tomorrow and on Thursday.Copper is also considered a base metal.Namibia mines zinc at Skorpion Zinc in the south, and copper at Ongopolo in Tsumeb.The objectives of the three-day seminar, which started yesterday, are to provide a vision for the region’s base-metal mining countries to assist in shaping up their mining policy and encourage foreign direct investment (FDI).It will also focus on improving the transparency of the mining industry and of governments in SADC, so as to attract investment.The seminar is organised by the Ministry of Mines and Energy in conjunction with the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) and the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC).Representatives of countries in the region will give presentations that will lead to the adoption of an action plan.The nine regional countries in attendance are Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and host Namibia, and these will be responsible for coming up with the regional mining policy.The region, which is rich in minerals and other natural resources, has become a prime choice for foreign investors, especially in the mining and minerals sector.Guidance and assistance will come from other officials at the seminar representing Australia, Japan, Mongolia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Portugal, United Kingdom, ILZSG and the CFC.”Combined with transparency and an adequate supply of information, [co-operation] gives investors confidence.Communication is also fundamental to the development of co-operative working within SADC,” states a report on the importance of cooperation.”Therefore there needs to be between governments, between governments and the private sector and between governments and local communities, an alignment purpose that will allow the mining sector to grow right across the region whilst considering the interests of all stakeholders.”Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mines and Energy Minister Erkki Nghimtina welcomed the concept, saying the conference would strengthen and revitalise the base metals industry.”The strategy for this conference is to increase competitiveness and the development of sustainable applications to help increase overall demand for the major minerals in the African Mining Belt.This strategy is indeed in alignment with the aspirations and the overall programmes of the African Mining Partnership,” he said.He added that the region should collectively take advantage of the current favourable prices of mineral commodities to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for the benefit of Africans.Said Nghimtina: “Radical changes in the global economic environment have resulted in intense competition between developing countries to attract foreign direct investment.Developing countries have embarked upon wide-ranging structural reforms to be more competitive.”Our Government recognises its commitment to the SADC region.The member states have agreed through a treaty to formulate common approaches to policies, strategies and programmes.”Namibia has a minerals policy in place endorsed by Cabinet in 2003, which sets out guiding principles and direction of the local mining sector.Seminar delegates will make field trips to Skorpion Zinc and Ongopolo Mining and Processing’s Tsumeb Copper Smelter tomorrow and on Thursday.