Africa's pandemic-hit mining sector faces exploration challenges

Africa's pandemic-hit mining sector faces exploration challenges

Posted on: 19 Nov, 2020

Travel restrictions, supply chain disruptions and risk aversion since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic have slammed the brakes on mining exploration in Africa, jeopardising the minerals supply pipeline.

Inward investment will be a key focus at the annual Investing in African Mining Indaba virtual conference to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, with companies looking to capitalise on higher metals prices and the transition to green energy.

Without exploration, the continent’s rich mineral resources are at risk of being unutilised as older mines become unviable.

Mining companies’ exploration budgets for Africa fell 10% to a four-year low in 2020, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

“COVID-19 has had an impact on all aspects of the mining value chain, and exploration is no exception,” said Alex Khumalo, head of social performance at the Minerals Council, South Africa, an industry trade group.

While Africa did not fare as badly as Latin America, where budgets fell by 21%, the sharp decline was in marked contrast to the 1.5% dip in the United States and Canada.

In many cases companies have been turning more towards their home jurisdictions and what they see as their safe-haven investments, said Chris Galbraith, senior metals and mining analyst at S&P Global.

By Tanisha Heiberg, Helen Reid - Joburg