Nigeria and South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in the mining sector, following a Bi-National Commission’s inauguration. Key areas of focus include technological collaboration, capacity building, and sharing of geological data, endorsing mutual benefits and intra-African trade growth.
Nigeria and South Africa are enhancing their bilateral relations with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by their Ministers of Solid Minerals Development. The MoU aims to promote collaboration in the mining sector, reflecting recent efforts to solidify ties through the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission inaugurated by Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Cyril Ramaphosa.
The MoU was established during a bilateral meeting in Abuja between Nigeria’s Dele Alake and South Africa’s Gwede Mantashe. Alake highlighted the historical cooperation based on mutual respect and a shared vision for Africa’s development, emphasizing the mining sector’s potential to drive industrialisation and job creation.
He pointed out that the MoU will facilitate technology transfer, investment promotion, and value addition. Nigeria’s focus on developing its mining industry can benefit from South Africa’s expertise in the field, fostering investment, skill development, and economic diversification.
Mantashe acknowledged that South Africa could profit from Nigeria’s heightened interest in mining, aiming to refine agreements from their Bi-National Commission to enhance joint projects. Both ministers pledged to maintain engagement and collaborate to advance intra-African trade, confident that their partnership will significantly benefit their respective mining sectors.
Key highlights of the MoU include:
1. Capacity building in geological applications with UAVs.
2. Use of Multi- and Hyper-spectral Remote Sensing Technologies.
3. Sharing geoscientific data on strategic minerals via the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency.
4. Training on mineral processing and value addition.
5. Capacity building on Elemental Fingerprint Technology using LA-ICP-MS.
6. Exploration of agricultural and energy minerals in Nigeria.
The signing of the MoU between Nigeria and South Africa marks a significant advancement in their mining sector collaboration. By focusing on capacity building, technology transfer, and exploration, both countries aim to unlock the vast potential of their mineral resources, benefiting their economies and enhancing trade within Africa.
Original Source: von.gov.ng