Every Friday, SAfm’s radio anchor Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly. Reported here is this Friday’s At the Coalface transcript:

Kamwendo: Major global mining companies this week singled out Africa as the biggest and best investment destination.

Creamer: This was both Barrick, listed in New York and Canada, and AngloGold, coming through saying, you know, from Africa, you really get good results. Of the 15 mines in the AngloGold stable, the top mines are from Africa. Then Barrick said not only are these mines big and strong, they are also consistent, which is a very big thing in mining. So, I think we should realize that on our continent, there are riches there, and they are getting recognized and that we should also promote this, because it is something that could develop this economy and make it far richer.

Kamwendo: It is impossible for the world to fight off the huge climate change threat without metals and minerals from Africa.

Creamer: Again, this is being spoken in London, not in Africa. At the conference there they are saying the fate of humanity rests on the African continent. Why are they saying this? Because the world is facing climate change crisis and without those metals and minerals from Africa, you cannot defeat this. So again, that copper, that cobalt doesn't seem to be understood enough. They are promoting now that Africa will lead the world in mining by a vast margin.  So, another big plus for the continent.

Kamwendo: Namibia this week caught the eye yet again as a country of choice when it comes to foreign mining investment.

Creamer: Japanese investors were in Namibia this week, two big deals signed. The one is around exploration to find rare earths and to find cobalt. The other is around hydrogen development. Again, people saying that we have got riches here in terms of sunlight and in terms of energy in the new world, that is so important. The interesting thing is that these people come from Japan, they sign deals here, and then of course, they go off to a few other African countries. One hopes that they will also be coming to South Africa. We need to rebuild our status again.

Kamwendo: Thanks very much. Martin Creamer is publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly.