Australia Digs in to African Mining Boom

According to austrade: Australian companies, who have a world class reputation, are in a strong position to leverage the excellent growth opportunities in the African resource sector. Australia’s role in Africa’s mining sector will be showcased at the premier mining conference ‘Mining Indaba 2007′ in Cape Town next week. Australia’s High Commissioners, Ambassadors to African countries plus the Australian Trade Commissioner will be present at Indaba to support an Australian Government promotion, which has been strongly backed by major mining companies, led by BHP Billiton.Australian High Commissioner to South Africa, Philip Green said: “Australian mining companies are making a substantial contribution to the development of Africa’s resource sector a role that is important for Africa’s future”. “Australian mining and resource investment in Africa is worth more than $US15 billion – a large proportion of new ventures on the continent have an Australian involvement.”"The resource industry is pivotal for Africa’s future how well it is managed will largely determine whether the prosperity sought in Africa, over coming decades, can be achieved. The Australian mining industry is bringing to Africa not only high standards in mining itself and in advanced mining technologies, but also in the delivery of environmental protection, corporate social responsibility and community development,” he said. Major Australian mining projects are underway in countries as diverse as South Africa, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mozambique and Tanzania. Gold, copper, nickel, coal, mineral sands and uranium are among the resources being mined. Madagascar is also becoming a hot spot for mining companies with Rio Tinto developing a titanium dioxide mine. According to the Austrade’s Chief Economist, Tim Harcourt, the emerging resources boom in Africa “represents significant potential for Australian exporters in mining, mining-related technology and infrastructure and skill formation in the African TAFE sector.”

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