2011 Africa – Investment Destination for Miners – Part V: West Africa

 THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 01, 2011

2011 Africa – Investment Destination for Miners – Part V: West Africa

One of the most interesting parts of the continent that emerged in the past year is West Africa. Yes, it takes quite a number of risks, the major one being a political, but the mining companies, including the world industry giants are taking it. This resource describes some of the issues The Pros and Cons of Mining in West Africa. At the same time, there is an acceptable mineral tax regime. Mining in Mali – a background note for the Swedish International Development cooperation Agency provides this comparison table:

There is a lot of talk about gold mining and quite a number of Australian companies are very active. This was quite a surprise for Australian analysts – as per their words – 15 years ago no one ever thought about this part of the world as a prime mining destination (this was expressed at the 2010 PlayDirt Gold Conference). The USGS notes that West Africa is the top reason in gold resource growth from 1997-2005. Three of the four top global gold producers have a big stake in the region; Newmont, AngloGold and Gold Fields. More analysis may be found in West African Gold Sector by Ambrian Capital plc . Southern Cross Equities in their Gold in Africa Report in detail discuss developments in gold mining in West Africa and list these companies:

The gold deposits of West Africa occur within Birimian rocks of the Man shield, which covers the southernmost third of the West African craton. Those interested in geology features may look at this paper that examines geology in detail: A decade of change—mineral exploration in West Africa, while one of the latest issues of the Australian Mining Review provides this good map:
West Africa Gold: ASX-listed gold company valuations by Foster Stockbroking makes a good valuation of these companies

It takes some time to develop a mining project. Mining investments are long term projects often spanning more than 10 years from the first conceptual studies based on preliminary exploration results to the final construction phase. This may take 18-24 months to complete. However, a very good example of gold mine development is described in this document Adamus Resources. On a direct path to gold production by McGuire Research

2011 Africa - Investment Destination for Miners - Part III: West African Countries

 THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 10, 2011

2011 Africa - Investment Destination for Miners - Part III: West African Countries

It is impossible within the Blog framework constrains to describe all the feature of mining investments in West Africa. To this point, I would like to recommend two valuable sources:

USAID Property Rights and Resource Governance: Information Portal – on this page one may find a detailed information source on the mineral property rights in many countries of the world, including West Africa.

AfricanEconomicOutlook.org combines the expertise of the African Development Bank, the OECD Development Centre, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and a network of African think tanks and research centers. The profiles of 50 African countries may be found here

Recent legal developments in the mining sector of West African states – mostly discusses ECOWAS (The Economic Community of West African States) initiatives in legal mining issues.


Now, let have a very brief outlook of certain West African states with relevant useful links:
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is recognized by many explorers to be the “Darling of West Africa.”  Major minerals include: gold, manganese, zinc.

• Benin, Burkina Faso, and Sao Tome e Principe—2009 USGS
• Small-Scale Mining in Burkina Faso
• Rocks for Crops Burkina Faso Geology
• We’re open for business, Burkina Faso tells miners
• Mining Journal - MJ Burkina Faso Supplement 11/10

Ghana
Ghana - Africa’s second largest gold producer after South Africa. It also has: manganese ore, bauxite and diamonds.

• Rock for Crops: Ghana Geology
• ACHIEVEMENTS Nzema Gold Operations - Adamus Resources Limited

Liberia
Liberia is one of the most unexplored countries in the world. It has: gold, diamonds, iron ore, nickel, manganese, palladium, platinum, uranium, barites, kysnite, phosphate, clays, heavy mineral beach sands, bauxite and manganese.

• OPEN LETTER TO POTENTIAL INVESTORS IN THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF LIBERIA
• Mining in Liberia
• Mineral Policy of Liberia

Mali

Mali is one of Africa’s largest gold producer - representing 95% of the country’s mineral production. Apart from gold. Other minerals include: bauxite, iron ore, base metals and phosphate deposits, uranium-silver.

• Rock for Crops: Mali Geology
• Mali’s mining & Petroleum industry
• Mining Taxation: An Application to Mali
• USGS The Mineral Industries of Mali and Niger
• AngloGold Ashanti Mali: Morila

Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is rich in mineral resources: diamonds, gold, bauxite, rutile, and iron ore

• Sierra Leone Mining Sector Brief
• The Sierra Leone mining sector: An opportunity or a lasting national shame?
• Mineral Resources: What Can Sierra Leone Offer You?
• USGS: The Mineral Industries of Liberia and Sierra Leone in 2007

Senegal
Mainly known for its phosphate deposits, but also has: gold, zircon, titanium, iron ore, marble, uranium, copper and chromium industrial limestone, attapulgite, peat and natural gas.

• Republic of Senegal - Mining Investment Opportunities in Senegal
• Senegal - A Supplement to Mining Journal
• Senegal - 2011-2015 - Senegal - Country Strategy Paper by African Development Bank
• Minerals in Senegal by USAID Property Rights and Resource Governance: Information Portal

That completes a brief overview of mining opportunities for investments in West Africa