By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
The 2025 Joburg Indaba is underway, a two day conference from 08 October to 09 October, that focuses on the gathering of mining leaders, policymakers, and analysts who are dedicated to uncovering the biggest challenges that are being faced by the sector as well as discussing South Africa’s position in global supply chains.
Anglo American CEO ,Duncan Wanblad, has expressed confidence that the company still has a future in Africa, as Africa still possesses critical mineral resources despite the company undergoing mass restructuring and off loading of assets in the continent.
Recently Anglo American has seized its coal and platinum operation in South Africa, as the company was founded in South Africa over a 100 years ago, as the company aims to shift its focus onto copper as it is regarded as a crucial metal in terms of the energy transition.
“I look at what the world needs in terms of minerals, I think Africa is the place to be.” said Wanblad at the mining conference held in Johannesburg.
“Hopefully, we’ll be as big as we were in Africa in a couple of years time,” Wanblad said further.
Africa has a big surplus of copper, cobalt, lithium as well as other rare earth elements which are mainly used for electrical vehicles, batteries and solar panels.
Recently Anglo American has averted being taken over by Australian company BHP but settled for merging with Canada’s Tech Resources, in order to lead the way in mining for copper. Wanblad also shed light on the fact that diamond is making a resurgence after a three year price slump, as Anglo has seen “strategic interest” from potential buyers of De Beers.
Since June De Beers has attracted significant potential investors, meanwhile Endiama, a diamond company under Anglo American, has announced a bid for a minority stake in De Beers.
“These are parties that know the industry, that know the assets, that love diamonds and that’s all very positive.” said Wanblad.
Paul Dunne who serves as the President of the Minerals Council South Africa, has outlined the balancing act between growth and transformation as it begs the question of whether or not the industry can achieve both simultaneously.
“We believe that the growth of the mining industry and the transformation of the economy are not mutually exclusive and are inextricably intertwined, we can’t have one without the other,” said Dunne in his address.
Richard Sellschop who is the senior partner of Mckinsey and Company led the morning session and also highlighted South Africa’s upcoming G20 Presidency which is set to be underway in November, and expressed that it’s a unique opportunity for South Africa to influence the global minerals agenda.
“South Africa can either be a bystander in the global minerals race or a formidable competitor,” said Sellschop.
The second session which was led by Craig Miller, CEO of Valterra Platinum facilitated the discussion surrounding the importance of PGMs and the evolving market dynamics.