AU to launch Minerals Development Centre

The African Union (AU) is to launch an African Minerals Development Centre to en­sure that African Govern­ments are better equipped to negotiate better mining and exploration terms and contracts.

This emerged at the sec­ond edition of the Junior Indaba, which is a gather­ing of small and medium sized mining players.

Through the African Minerals development centre and the mooted Af­rican Commodity Strategy, “Mindsets will be changed and the value added to our natural resources will be increased from 15% to at least 30%”

“This will facilitate for the creation of at least 7milion jobs on the con­tinent within the first year of implementation,” said Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the African Union Commission Chairperson.

In order to implement this strategy, Dr Dlamini Zuma called on the min­ing and education sec­tors to invest in the much needed skills, particularly as it relates to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics areas.

The Indaba continues up until today (2nd June) at the Johannesburg Coun­try Club in Auckland Park, South Africa.