South Africa, South Sudan set for partnership in mining sector

The Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation (AEMFC), based in South Africa, has announced its intention to seek partnerships with South Sudanese mining companies. The announcement was made during the “Africa Energy and Mining Business Forum” at the South Sudan Oil & Power 2023 event.

AEMFC, represented by Moroasereme Ntsoane, the General Manager of Corporate Strategy & Planning, emphasized their focus on public-private partnerships and collaboration. They expressed their openness to engaging with entities both within and outside of their existing partnerships. AEMFC believes in establishing partnerships not only at the company-to-company level but also with the local communities where mining operations take place.

South Africa boasts the largest and most advanced mining industry on the African continent. It is also home to significant reserves of various minerals, including platinum-group metals, manganese, chromite, and gold. On the other hand, South Sudan is in the early stages of developing its mining sector and aims to leverage its estimated reserves of copper, gold, diamonds, and limestone to benefit from the increasing demand for critical and industrial minerals.

Mining strategy

AEMFC’s approach in South Sudan goes beyond simply assessing the mineral value. They are committed to adopting a broader collaborative approach, including capacity building, enhancing the regulatory environment, and leveraging their mining experience to create an attractive investment climate. Their goal is to work closely with their partners in South Sudan to develop a comprehensive mining strategy that goes beyond extraction and considers various aspects of sustainable development.

In a presentation preceding the Africa Energy and Mining Business Forum, the South Africa Council for Geoscience expressed keen interest in geothermal exploration activities in the East African region. Given that South Sudan shares a border with the East African Rift System, which is estimated to hold over 10,000 MW of geothermal potential, this presents an opportunity for further collaboration in the energy sector.

Overall, AEMFC’s partnership-seeking approach aligns with their vision of collaboration, capacity building, and sustainable development in the mining sector, while South Sudan aims to leverage its mineral reserves and attract investment to foster economic growth and development.