Africa is home to about half of the world’s cobalt and manganese reserves; a fifth of its natural graphite and is a significant source of minerals required for agriculture and shelter. However, resource governance — how mining is regulated for sustainable development — remains a challenge for many countries.
To help foster an exchange of knowledge, 25 participants from across 20 countries took part in the Australia Awards Africa ‘Mining Governance’ short course, developed by Associate Professor Kathryn Sturman and Dr Lynda Lawson from the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) in collaboration with Curtin University’s Associate Professor Eric Lilford.
Dr Sturman explained that this course is SMI's second time teaching mining governance in collaboration with UQ's International Development unit and Australia Awards Africa, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
“But Australia doesn’t have a monopoly on good mining governance practice and the exchange of knowledge that took place was a two-way street,” Dr Sturman said.
Dr Lawson elaborated that the researchers, engineers and policymakers from Africa were able to gain and share valuable knowledge over the three weeks of the Australian field portion of the program in Perth, Central Queensland, and Brisbane.
“With new mining projects, some of these countries have the opportunity to change the narrative, compared to previous mining governance,” Dr Lawson said.
One participant, Natacha Ramanisa from Fort-Dauphin in Madagascar (nearby to a Rio Tinto ilmenite mine) particularly focused on improving opportunities for female entrepreneurs working near mines.
Ramanisa explained that geologically, Australia and Madagascar have a lot in common but there’s a huge gap in the development and management of mining resources.
“This training allowed me to see the roles that all stakeholders must take to achieve sustainable and responsible development from mineral resources,” Ramanisa said.
Another participant, Mohamed Aitiasso, a geological engineer from Djibouti explained that in his country, homes are generally built of cinder blocks, wood and metal roofing, but he was inspired by Australian building practices.
“Clay bricks and tiles could be used to build better insulated houses, while sandstone paving stones could be used to cover dusty floors, thus reducing the proliferation of dust in urban areas,” Aitiasso said.
The participants will present the results of their projects in March.
