Nigeria and South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in the mining sector, as part of efforts to solidify the partnership established through the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission.
The agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting between Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, and Gwede Mantashe, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, held in Abuja.
The MoU outlines key areas of cooperation, including capacity building in geological applications using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), utilization of multi- and hyperspectral remote sensing technologies for mineral exploration and geological mapping, sharing of geo-scientific data on strategic minerals, training on mineral processing and value addition, and exploration of agro and energy minerals in Nigeria.
Alake described the engagement as a milestone in deepening bilateral relations, especially in the mining sector, noting that working together presents significant opportunities for driving industrialization, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable growth throughout the continent.
The ministers committed to sustained engagement and collaboration to boost intra-African trade and deliver on the actionable steps outlined in the MoU, expressing confidence that this renewed partnership would significantly enhance the mining sectors of both countries.
Key Highlights of the MoU:
- Capacity Building: Geological applications using UAVs and elemental fingerprint technology using LA-ICP-MS
- Mineral Exploration: Utilization of remote sensing technologies for mineral exploration and geological mapping
- Geo-Scientific Data Sharing: Sharing of data on strategic minerals through the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA)
- Training and Value Addition: Mineral processing and value addition training
- Exploration: Agro and energy minerals exploration in Nigeria
The partnership aims to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer, investment promotion, capacity building, regional integration, and value addition, opening doors to investment, skills development, and economic diversification.
