Wrapping up the Future Minerals Forum in Saudi Arabia, CNBC Africa’s Nastassia Arendse spoke with Ntokozo Nqcwabe, Deputy Director General at the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in South Africa, to discuss the latest progress and partnership between the two countries.
Wrapping up the Future Minerals Forum in Saudi Arabia, my colleague Nastassia Arendse spoke with Ntokozo Nqcwabe, Deputy Director General at the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in South Africa, to discuss the latest progress and partnership between the two countries. Let's listen in on that discussion. Team South Africa is basically here to follow through on what emanates from the President's visit in Saudi, where there was a country-to-country agreement signed, which agreement would see a flow of investments and projects between the two countries. But secondly, it's also a follow-through on the forum's outcomes or resolutions last year, where ministers had given certain guidance in terms of what needs to be executed. And we saw that being presented yesterday, and it's been quite exciting to see that some of the projects are really beginning to materialise. So give us a bit more detail on that follow-through, because I think engaging with some of the ministers here, at least the ones from the African regions, they said to me that as much as they are excited that agreements have been signed, MOUs are taking place on the sidelines of the event, what will really create impact and have actual benefit, not just for Saudi Arabia, but for the individual African countries, South Africa included, is that we need to see meaningful impact, those MOUs turning into actual action. From that follow-through that you're reporting back on or seeing, what actually is it for the global investors who are watching this interview right now? One of the pillars, for example, in what was agreed last year, was the establishment of centres of excellence. And between last year's forum sitting and this year's one, the CSIR has been heavily involved with the work in terms of defining and shaping what the centres of excellence would look like and what work they would cover. And a report on that work was presented yesterday in the ministerial roundtable, and it was adopted by all ministers. But additionally, the CSIR was identified as a state-owned entity that would play a leading role in advancing that work going forward. On the other hand, there is a project where there's a platinum asset in the Limpopo province that's got shareholders in Saudi Arabia. And work in relation to that project, insofar as processing of the ore further, has been undertaken by MINTEC, which is another SOE reporting to the department. So we, from where we sit at South Africa, we are beyond MOUs and paper. We are now in actual action and we are implementing what's been agreed previously. For the global investors who've been tracking developments within South Africa, one of the things that they may be concerned with and wanting to know whether we are actually having a headway in dealing with the issue is the logistics, is the issues around the ports. How are we addressing that as South Africa in terms of providing that encouragement to say, we are dealing with some of the issues, we are dealing with the reforms, and South Africa is essentially open for business? I think if you check over the past few months, there's really been movement. The work led by president and the OV office within the presidency has really yielded positive results. Partnerships with private sector, particularly on rail, in unlocking bottlenecks and moving the needle on infrastructure maintenance and repairs on rail lines has advanced quite a lot. And we have unlocked a lot of those bottlenecks. And there's further work going on in terms of ensuring that we have one-stop shops, for example, where somebody does not have to wait for DMPR to issue a license, go to water and sanitation, get a different license. But we are now streamlining our processes and shortening the times that it takes us to issue those permits. Overall, there's good progress. And we want to say to investors, South Africa remains open for business. But also, South Africa has what technology cannot change, which is the geology. We have it. And there's no reason why they shouldn't come and invest in South Africa. In terms of engagements, have you been able to sit down around the table with other ministers from the other African countries? And what has that engagement been like? Well, at the ministerial roundtable yesterday, we took an opportunity to engage with other African countries, basically inviting them to a ministerial roundtable that Minister Mandasa will be hosting on the margins of mining in Java. And really, the intention with that roundtable is twofold. One, for African ministers to adopt the African Union-led green mineral strategy for the continent, adopt that and have it ready for the adoption by the AU heads of state later in February. But secondly, craft a common position for the African mining sector within the G20 Presidency of South Africa. So we took an opportunity to talk about that. And there's a good response, insofar as that is concerned. And a lot of ministers have confirmed that they will be attending. The commissioner from the African Union will be in attendance. And I think that forum as well, that platform would be used to ensure that we advance working so far as critical minerals for the continent, and driving beneficiation for the benefit of the continent.
Theme: Strengthening Partnership and Collaboration in Africa's Mining Sector
South Africa and Saudi Arabia have come together at the Future Minerals Forum to discuss the progress and partnership between the two countries. Ntokozo Nqcwabe, the Deputy Director General at the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in South Africa, provided insights on the developments following the President's visit to Saudi Arabia, where a significant agreement was signed to facilitate investments and projects between the nations. The forum served as a platform to address key outcomes and resolutions from the previous year, with a focus on translating memorandums of understanding (MOUs) into tangible action. The collaboration between South Africa and Saudi Arabia is moving beyond rhetoric and paperwork, with concrete projects and initiatives taking shape, attracting the attention of global investors. One of the key areas of focus has been the establishment of centres of excellence, spearheaded by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa. The ministers from various African regions have emphasized the importance of driving meaningful impact and delivering results that benefit not only Saudi Arabia but also individual African countries like South Africa. The partnership between South Africa and Saudi Arabia extends to joint projects, such as a platinum asset in the Limpopo province, showcasing the commitment to fostering cooperation and progress in the mining sector. The South African government has been proactively addressing logistical challenges and regulatory reforms to create a conducive environment for investment. Efforts to streamline processes, improve infrastructure, and enhance industry regulations are underway to position South Africa as an attractive destination for global investors. With a focus on leveraging its geological wealth and technological advancements, South Africa is sending a clear message that it is open for business and offers lucrative opportunities for mining ventures. Engagements with ministers from other African countries have been pivotal in aligning the continent's mining sector under a unified position within the G20 Presidency of South Africa. The commitment to adopting a green mineral strategy for Africa and promoting beneficiation initiatives demonstrates a collective effort to drive sustainable growth and development across the region. The upcoming ministerial roundtable in Java is poised to further enhance collaboration and coordination among African nations, paving the way for strategic partnerships and synergies in the mining industry.
"South Africa remains open for business. But also, South Africa has what technology cannot change, which is the geology. We have it. And there's no reason why they shouldn't come and invest in South Africa."
South Africa, Saudi Arabia, mining sector, partnership, investments, Future Minerals Forum, Africa, G20 Presidency, beneficiation, infrastructure, logistics, CSIR, MOUs, green mineral strategy