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South Africa
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REMARKS BY H.E. MR PHILIP GREEN O.A.M.
AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SOUTH AFRICA
AT THE MINISTERS’ AND AMBASSADORS’ LUNCHEON
MINING INDABA
CAPE TOWN, 5 FEBRUARY 2008
GOOD AFTERNOON YOUR EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND WELCOME TO THE AUSTRALIAN LOUNGE AT MINING INDABA. IT IS A GENUINE PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES – AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS TO AFRICAN COUNTRIES – TO BE ABLE TO SHARE TIME WITH YOU TODAY.
I WANT TO WELCOME IN PARTICULAR THE MINISTERS WHO HAVE HONOURED US WITH THEIR PRESENCE HERE TODAY.
• HONOURABLE ESTHER OBENG-DAPPAH, MINISTER FOR LANDS FORESTRY AND MINERALS OF GHANA
• HONOURABLE KEDIKILWE, MINISTER FOR MINERALS, ENERGY AND WATER AFFAIRS OF BOTSWANA
• HONOURABLE TESFAI GHEBRESELASSIE, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND MINES OF THE STATE OF ERITREA
• HONOURABLE SARAFA ISOLA, MINISTER FOR MINES AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA
• HONOURABLE DUMSILE SUKATI, MINISTER FOR NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY OF SWAZILAND
• HONORABLE DR KALOMBO MWANSA, MINISTER OF MINES AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENT FROM ZAMBIA
• HONOURABLE ABDAL RAZAK NOORMAHOMED, VICE MINISTER FOR MINES AND ENERGY OF MOZAMBIQUE
• AND THE HONOURABLE KASONGO, VICE MINISTER OF MINES OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• HONOURABLE DR SAMUEL NDAYIRAGIJE, MINISTER OF MINES OF BURUNDI
• HONOURABLE SINKNESH EJIGU, MINISTER OF MINES AND ENERGY OF ETHIOPIA
• HONOURABLE FUH CALISTUS GENTRY, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MINES, CAMEROON
• HONOURABLE ABDOULAYE CISSE, MINISTER OF MINES AND ENERGY OF BURKINA FASO
ADDITIONALLY:
• H.E. BENE M’POKO, THE AMBASSADOR OF THE DEMOCTRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• AND H.E. JIMMY HEYMANN, HIGH COMMISSIONER OF GHANA
WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO HONOUR US TODAY WITH YOUR PRESENCE. WE WANT YOU TO VISIT THIS LOUNGE AS OFTEN AS YOUR SCHEDULES ALLOW; TO SHAKE AS MANY AUSTRALIAN HANDS AS YOU CAN; TO GET TO KNOW US BETTER; AND TO SEE HOW AUSTRALIAN INVESTORS CAN DO MORE WORK IN YOUR COUNTRIES.
I WISH TO WELCOME ALSO THE RANGE OF OTHER SENIOR FIGURES FROM MINING MINISTRIES ACROSS THE CONTINENT. WE HAVE HERE TODAY PERMANENT SECRETARIES, DIRECTORS GENERAL, OR COMMISSIONERS FOR MINING FROM A WIDE RANGE OF COUNTRIES –BURUNDI, CAMEROON, COTE D’IVOIRE, LESOTHO, LIBERIA, MADAGASCAR, MALI, NAMIBIA, SENEGAL AND TANZANIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE TODAY, AND PLEASE RECEIVE OUR HEARTY AUSTRALIAN WELCOME.
FROM AUSTRALIA, THE HEAD OF AUSTRALIA’S EXPORT PROMOTION ORGANISATION, AUSTRADE, PETER O’BYRNE, HAS JOINED US, TOGETHER WITH AUSTRALIA’S SENIOR TRADE COMMISSIONER TO AFRICA, GREG HULL.
THE PRESENCE OF THESE AUSTRALIAN SENIOR OFFICIALS, TOGETHER WITH OUR AMBASSADORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS FROM ACROSS THE CONTINENT, TESTIFIES TO THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT’S WISH TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH PARTNER GOVERNMENTS ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
TODAY, WE AUSTRALIANS SEEK YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE KEY FEATURES OF AUSTRALIA, AND ITS INVOLVEMENT IN MINING IN AFRICA.
WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE NOTE OF THE FACT THAT AUSTRALIA IS A MINING COUNTRY.
LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 40 PER CENT OF AUSTRALIA’S TOTAL GOODS EXPORTS WERE MINING AND RESOURCE PRODUCTS. WE ARE THE WORLD’S LARGEST EXPORTER OF BAUXITE, COAL, AND MINERAL SANDS. AUSTRALIA IS THE SECOND LARGEST EXPORTER OF URANIUM AND IRON ORE, AND THE THIRD LARGEST EXPORTER OF GOLD.
SO, JUST LIKE MANY AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AUSTRALIA DEPENDS HEAVILY ON THE RESOURCE INDUSTRY FOR ITS PROSPERITY.
AUSTRALIA’S OWN INVOLVEMENT IN MINING HAS DEVELOPED MANY OF THE SKILLS AT THE CORE OF EFFICIENT MINING PRACTICE –ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT; HIGH TECH SERVICES AND SOFTWARE.
BUT, HONOURABLE MINISTERS, AUSTRALIA’S EXPERIENCE OF MINING HAS ALSO NURTURED SOME OTHER FEATURES THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO YOU AS YOU DEVELOP YOUR OWN COUNTRIES’ NATURAL INHERITANCE.
• WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED FOR SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, TO ENSURE THAT THE BENEFIT OF MINING IS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
• WE UNDERSTAND WELL THE NEED FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, SO THAT, BEFORE TOO LONG, MANY MORE AFRICANS CAN BE ENGAGED THEMSELVES IN MINING OPERATIONS.
• WE PUT A HIGH PREMIUM ON SAFETY.
• AND, BECAUSE OF OUR OWN FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT – WE LIVE IN THE DRIEST CONTINENT ON EARTH – WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
THIS RANGE OF EXPERTISE IS NOW ENGAGED IN AFRICA - VERY DEEPLY ENGAGED. AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES HAVE SOMETHING IN THE ORDER OF FIFTEEN BILLION U.S. DOLLARS ALREADY INVESTED IN MINING AND RESOURCE PROJECTS IN AFRICA. MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES ARE INVOLVED IN MINING AND ASSOCIATED SERVICES ON THIS CONTINENT. AND SOME SAY THAT FORTY PER CENT OF NEW MINING PROJECTS IN AFRICA HAVE AN AUSTRALIAN CHARACTER.
HONORABLE MINISTERS, TODAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE TO YOU SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST CAPABLE MINING COMPANIES. I WANT TO IDENTIFY TO YOU SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY DEEPLY INVOLVED IN MINING AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA, AND WHO – WITH YOUR SUPPORT – WILL BE KEEN TO DO MORE.
• MATT MULLINS FROM BHP BILLITON (MATT, YOU PLEASE STAND UP). BHP BILLITON IS A COMPANY BORN IN AUSTRALIA, BUT ONE THAT HAS GROWN UP TO BE A TRULY GLOBAL PLAYER. NOW THE LARGEST MINING COMPANY IN THE WORLD, BHP BILLITON EMPLOYS 39,000 PEOPLE ACROSS ONE HUNDRED OPERATIONS IN AROUND TWENTY-FIVE COUNTREIS. ITS CORE VALUE IS ZERO HARM. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE BHP BILLITON AS THE PRINCIPAL SPONSOR OF THE AUSTRALIAN LOUNGE.
• I WANT YOU TO MEET MARK CONNELLY FROM ADAMUS RESOURCES (PLEASE STAND UP MARK). ADAMUS IS A MINERAL EXPLORATION AND MINING COMPANY, CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON THE SOUTHERN ASHANTI GOLD PROJECT I GHANA.
• MARC FLORY FROM AIM RESOURCES. AIM HAS AN EXCITING PORTFOLIO OF AFRICAN ASSETS INCLUDING IN BURKINA FASO, ZAMBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA.
• BILL TURNER FROM ANVIL MINING, THE LEADING COPPER PRODUCER IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, WITH A SPECIALLY STRONG FOCUS ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
• FROM ATOMIC RESOURCES, I WANT TO INTRODUCE DAVID HOLDEN. CURRENTLY ATOMIC HAS A URANIUM FOCUS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND TANZANIA.
• FROM BONAPARTE DIAMOND MINES, MIKE WOODBORNE. BONAPARTE’S FOCUS IS ON MARINE DIAMONDS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.
• GREG JAMES FROM CENTRAL RAND GOLD. HARKING BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS WHEN AN AUSTRALIAN DISCOVERED THE FIRST GOLD IN SOUTH AFRICA, CENTRAL RAND GOLD ARE PROSPECTING IN AN AREA SOUTH OF JOHANNESBURG’S CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
• BRIAN THOMAS FROM CHROME CORPORATION, DEVELOPING A PROJECT IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH THE RESOURCES TO PRODUCE CHROME PRODUCTS FOR UP TO TEN YEARS.
• DEEP YELLOW LIMITED, REPRESENTED HERE TODAY BY DR LEON PRETORIUS. DEEP YELLOW IS URANIUM EXPLORATION COMPANY WITH OPERATIONS IN NAMIBIA AND AUSTRALIA.
• CRAIG WILLIAMS FROM EQUINOX, CURRENTLY DEVELOPING THE MASSIVE LUMWANA PROJECT IN ZAMBIA.
• TONY GREY FROM INTERNATIONAL FERRO METALS. THE PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF IFM’S SOUTH AFRICAN OPERATIONS EXCEEDS THREE PER CENT OF WORLD FERRO CHROME SUPPLIES; AND IFM PLAN TO INCREASE PRODUCTION CAPACITY 250 PER CENT BY 2011.
• JOHN BORSHOFF FROM PALADIN ENERGY WHOSE NEW NAMIBIAN URANIUM MINE I WITNESSED OPENED BY PRESIDENT POHAMBA LAST YEAR. PALADIN HAVE SINCE MOVED QUICKLY ON TO DEVELOP A MAJOR NEW PROJECT IN MALAWI WHICH WILL, WHEN COMPLETE, CONTRIBUTE AT LEAST A QUARTER OF MALAWI’S EXPORT EARNINGS.
• FROM PLATINUM AUSTRALIA JOHN LEWINS – ABOUT TO COMMENCE PRODUCTION FROM ITS SMOKEY HILLS PROJECT, AND WITH ANOTHER SOUTH AFRICAN PLATINUM PROJECT ALSO ON THE DRAWING BOARD.
• PETER SULLIVAN FROM RESOLUTE MINING. WITH A MARKET CAPITALISATION OF AROUND FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, RESOLUTE ALREADY HAS WELL ESTABLISHED GOLD MINING ACTIVITIES IN TANZANIA, MALI AND GHANA.
• MICHAEL O’KEEFFE FROM RIVERSDALE MINING, WELL DOWN THE TRACK TO DEVELOPING MOZAMBIQUE’S COAL RESERVES.
• AND FROM ZAMBEZI RESOURCES, GEOFFREY JOHNSON – FOCUSSING ON COPPER AND GOLD PROJECTS IN SOUTHERN ZAMBIA.
I THINK YOU WILL AGREE THAT THIS REPRESENTS A REMARKABLY WIDE RANGE OF PROJECTS, ACROSS DIVERSE MINERAL GROUPS, AND A VERY WIDE GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD.
TO OUR GUESTS FROM GOVERNMENTS ACROSS AFRICA, I URGE YOU TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW THESE AUSTRALIANS, WHO ARE AT THE CORE OF THE ARRAY OF AUSTRALIAN MINING DEVELOPMENTS IN AFRICA.
I ALSO URGE YOU TO GET TO KNOW BILL REPARD – PLEASE ALSO STAND, BILL – MINISTERS, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY RELEVANT TO AFRICA, THERE IS NO BETTER PERSON TO ASK THAN, BILL REPARD WHO PUBLISHES THE NEWS MAGAZINE PAYDIRT AND ORGANISES THE ANNUAL AFRICA DOWNUNDER CONFERENCE, WHICH I HOPE EACH OF YOU WILL ATTEND.
HONOURABLE MINISTERS, AUSTRALIA’S MINING INDUSTRY IS BACKED BY WORLD CLASS TECHNOLOGY, SKILLS AND SUPPORT. SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S GREAT MINING SERVICE COMPANIES ARE ALSO REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.
THEY ARE:
• SNOWDEN CONSULTING SERVICES,
• MICROMINE, IT SPECIALISTS WHO SUPPORT EVERY STAGE OF THE MINING PROCESS,
• ENGINEERS AND CONSTRUCTORS GRD MINPROC,
• SAMPLES ANALYSTS GENALYSIS,
• INNOVATIVE MINERAL PROCESSING EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS GEKKO,
• INTEGRATED SOFTWARE SUPPLIERS ENCOM,
• ADG GLOBAL SUPPLY, SUPPLIERS OF DRILLING, MINING AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT,
• SUPPLIERS OF CONSUMABLE WEAR PARTS CQMS,
• WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS CUBE,
• CONSULTANTS AND PROJECT MANAGERS COFFEY MINING,
• AND, FINALLY, AUSENCO, PROVIDERS OF INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
WE AUSTRALIANS LIKE TO WORK AS A TEAM – AND THE TEAM AROUND US TODAY IS MORE THAN MINING COMPANIES AND THEIR SERVICE PROVIDERS:
• I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU ROMILA PRASAD FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN STATE OF QUEENSLAND. QUEENSLAND COMPANIES ARE EXPERT IN A WIDE RANGE OF FIELDS INCLUDING - EXPLORATON AND SUSTAINABLE MINING, MINE SAFETY, PRODUCT QUALITY AND ENVIORNMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
• THE AUSTRALIA-AFRICA BUSINESS COUNCIL IS REPRESENTED TODAY BY LISA BROWNE. THE AABC IS THE PEAK NON-GOVERNMENTAL BODY PROMOTING TRADE BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND AFRICA.
• FINALLY, I WANT TO INTRODUCE PETER YOUNG, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EXPORT FINANCE INSURANCE CORPORATION. EFIC IS AUSTRALIA’S EXPORT CREDIT AGENCY, AND PROVIDES SPECIALIST FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE SERVICES TO AUSTRALIAN CORPORATES. AS A RECENT EXAMPLE, EFIC COMMITTED FORTY-THREE MILLION DOLLARS TO THE FINANCIAL FACILITY FOR EQUINOX’S DEVELOPMENT OF THE LUMWANA COPPER MINE IN ZAMBIA.
HONOURABLE MINISTERS, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IS PROUD TO STAND BEHIND THESE COMPANIES AND INSTITUTIONS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENGAGE WITH THEM, TODAY, AND FOR THE DURATION OF THIS CONFERENCE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE THIS LOUNGE YOUR HOME UNTIL THURSDAY.
THESE PEOPLE ARE ESTABLISHING MINES, CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR ECONOMIES, AND HELPING BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR AFRICA.
BUT THEY ARE DOING MORE THAN THAT. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN AUSTRALIA’S RELATIONS WITH AFRICA FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS, I SUGGEST THAT AUSTRALIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN MINING IS NOT JUST DEVELOPING RESOURCES. IT IS BUILDING A NEW AND ENDURING BOND BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS AND PEOPLES OF AUSTRALIA AND AFRICA. THE INVOLVEMENT OF AUSTRALIANS IN MINING IS, IN MY VIEW, THE MOST IMPORTANT DYNAMIC IN AUSTRALIA’S RELATIONS WITH AFRICA TODAY.
SO I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER AUSTRALIA’S MINING EXPERTISE, AND TO HELP US PLAN HOW THAT CAN BE HARNESSED TO BUILD AFRICA’S FUTURE. I LOOK FORWARD TO A GROWING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TWO GREAT MINING CONTINENTS – AUSTRALIA AND AFRICA.
AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SOUTH AFRICA
AT THE MINISTERS’ AND AMBASSADORS’ LUNCHEON
MINING INDABA
CAPE TOWN, 5 FEBRUARY 2008
GOOD AFTERNOON YOUR EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND WELCOME TO THE AUSTRALIAN LOUNGE AT MINING INDABA. IT IS A GENUINE PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES – AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS TO AFRICAN COUNTRIES – TO BE ABLE TO SHARE TIME WITH YOU TODAY.
I WANT TO WELCOME IN PARTICULAR THE MINISTERS WHO HAVE HONOURED US WITH THEIR PRESENCE HERE TODAY.
• HONOURABLE ESTHER OBENG-DAPPAH, MINISTER FOR LANDS FORESTRY AND MINERALS OF GHANA
• HONOURABLE KEDIKILWE, MINISTER FOR MINERALS, ENERGY AND WATER AFFAIRS OF BOTSWANA
• HONOURABLE TESFAI GHEBRESELASSIE, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND MINES OF THE STATE OF ERITREA
• HONOURABLE SARAFA ISOLA, MINISTER FOR MINES AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA
• HONOURABLE DUMSILE SUKATI, MINISTER FOR NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY OF SWAZILAND
• HONORABLE DR KALOMBO MWANSA, MINISTER OF MINES AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENT FROM ZAMBIA
• HONOURABLE ABDAL RAZAK NOORMAHOMED, VICE MINISTER FOR MINES AND ENERGY OF MOZAMBIQUE
• AND THE HONOURABLE KASONGO, VICE MINISTER OF MINES OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• HONOURABLE DR SAMUEL NDAYIRAGIJE, MINISTER OF MINES OF BURUNDI
• HONOURABLE SINKNESH EJIGU, MINISTER OF MINES AND ENERGY OF ETHIOPIA
• HONOURABLE FUH CALISTUS GENTRY, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MINES, CAMEROON
• HONOURABLE ABDOULAYE CISSE, MINISTER OF MINES AND ENERGY OF BURKINA FASO
ADDITIONALLY:
• H.E. BENE M’POKO, THE AMBASSADOR OF THE DEMOCTRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• AND H.E. JIMMY HEYMANN, HIGH COMMISSIONER OF GHANA
WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO HONOUR US TODAY WITH YOUR PRESENCE. WE WANT YOU TO VISIT THIS LOUNGE AS OFTEN AS YOUR SCHEDULES ALLOW; TO SHAKE AS MANY AUSTRALIAN HANDS AS YOU CAN; TO GET TO KNOW US BETTER; AND TO SEE HOW AUSTRALIAN INVESTORS CAN DO MORE WORK IN YOUR COUNTRIES.
I WISH TO WELCOME ALSO THE RANGE OF OTHER SENIOR FIGURES FROM MINING MINISTRIES ACROSS THE CONTINENT. WE HAVE HERE TODAY PERMANENT SECRETARIES, DIRECTORS GENERAL, OR COMMISSIONERS FOR MINING FROM A WIDE RANGE OF COUNTRIES –BURUNDI, CAMEROON, COTE D’IVOIRE, LESOTHO, LIBERIA, MADAGASCAR, MALI, NAMIBIA, SENEGAL AND TANZANIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE TODAY, AND PLEASE RECEIVE OUR HEARTY AUSTRALIAN WELCOME.
FROM AUSTRALIA, THE HEAD OF AUSTRALIA’S EXPORT PROMOTION ORGANISATION, AUSTRADE, PETER O’BYRNE, HAS JOINED US, TOGETHER WITH AUSTRALIA’S SENIOR TRADE COMMISSIONER TO AFRICA, GREG HULL.
THE PRESENCE OF THESE AUSTRALIAN SENIOR OFFICIALS, TOGETHER WITH OUR AMBASSADORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS FROM ACROSS THE CONTINENT, TESTIFIES TO THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT’S WISH TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH PARTNER GOVERNMENTS ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
TODAY, WE AUSTRALIANS SEEK YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE KEY FEATURES OF AUSTRALIA, AND ITS INVOLVEMENT IN MINING IN AFRICA.
WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE NOTE OF THE FACT THAT AUSTRALIA IS A MINING COUNTRY.
LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 40 PER CENT OF AUSTRALIA’S TOTAL GOODS EXPORTS WERE MINING AND RESOURCE PRODUCTS. WE ARE THE WORLD’S LARGEST EXPORTER OF BAUXITE, COAL, AND MINERAL SANDS. AUSTRALIA IS THE SECOND LARGEST EXPORTER OF URANIUM AND IRON ORE, AND THE THIRD LARGEST EXPORTER OF GOLD.
SO, JUST LIKE MANY AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AUSTRALIA DEPENDS HEAVILY ON THE RESOURCE INDUSTRY FOR ITS PROSPERITY.
AUSTRALIA’S OWN INVOLVEMENT IN MINING HAS DEVELOPED MANY OF THE SKILLS AT THE CORE OF EFFICIENT MINING PRACTICE –ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT; HIGH TECH SERVICES AND SOFTWARE.
BUT, HONOURABLE MINISTERS, AUSTRALIA’S EXPERIENCE OF MINING HAS ALSO NURTURED SOME OTHER FEATURES THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO YOU AS YOU DEVELOP YOUR OWN COUNTRIES’ NATURAL INHERITANCE.
• WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED FOR SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, TO ENSURE THAT THE BENEFIT OF MINING IS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
• WE UNDERSTAND WELL THE NEED FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, SO THAT, BEFORE TOO LONG, MANY MORE AFRICANS CAN BE ENGAGED THEMSELVES IN MINING OPERATIONS.
• WE PUT A HIGH PREMIUM ON SAFETY.
• AND, BECAUSE OF OUR OWN FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT – WE LIVE IN THE DRIEST CONTINENT ON EARTH – WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
THIS RANGE OF EXPERTISE IS NOW ENGAGED IN AFRICA - VERY DEEPLY ENGAGED. AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES HAVE SOMETHING IN THE ORDER OF FIFTEEN BILLION U.S. DOLLARS ALREADY INVESTED IN MINING AND RESOURCE PROJECTS IN AFRICA. MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES ARE INVOLVED IN MINING AND ASSOCIATED SERVICES ON THIS CONTINENT. AND SOME SAY THAT FORTY PER CENT OF NEW MINING PROJECTS IN AFRICA HAVE AN AUSTRALIAN CHARACTER.
HONORABLE MINISTERS, TODAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE TO YOU SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST CAPABLE MINING COMPANIES. I WANT TO IDENTIFY TO YOU SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY DEEPLY INVOLVED IN MINING AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA, AND WHO – WITH YOUR SUPPORT – WILL BE KEEN TO DO MORE.
• MATT MULLINS FROM BHP BILLITON (MATT, YOU PLEASE STAND UP). BHP BILLITON IS A COMPANY BORN IN AUSTRALIA, BUT ONE THAT HAS GROWN UP TO BE A TRULY GLOBAL PLAYER. NOW THE LARGEST MINING COMPANY IN THE WORLD, BHP BILLITON EMPLOYS 39,000 PEOPLE ACROSS ONE HUNDRED OPERATIONS IN AROUND TWENTY-FIVE COUNTREIS. ITS CORE VALUE IS ZERO HARM. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE BHP BILLITON AS THE PRINCIPAL SPONSOR OF THE AUSTRALIAN LOUNGE.
• I WANT YOU TO MEET MARK CONNELLY FROM ADAMUS RESOURCES (PLEASE STAND UP MARK). ADAMUS IS A MINERAL EXPLORATION AND MINING COMPANY, CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON THE SOUTHERN ASHANTI GOLD PROJECT I GHANA.
• MARC FLORY FROM AIM RESOURCES. AIM HAS AN EXCITING PORTFOLIO OF AFRICAN ASSETS INCLUDING IN BURKINA FASO, ZAMBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA.
• BILL TURNER FROM ANVIL MINING, THE LEADING COPPER PRODUCER IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, WITH A SPECIALLY STRONG FOCUS ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
• FROM ATOMIC RESOURCES, I WANT TO INTRODUCE DAVID HOLDEN. CURRENTLY ATOMIC HAS A URANIUM FOCUS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND TANZANIA.
• FROM BONAPARTE DIAMOND MINES, MIKE WOODBORNE. BONAPARTE’S FOCUS IS ON MARINE DIAMONDS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.
• GREG JAMES FROM CENTRAL RAND GOLD. HARKING BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS WHEN AN AUSTRALIAN DISCOVERED THE FIRST GOLD IN SOUTH AFRICA, CENTRAL RAND GOLD ARE PROSPECTING IN AN AREA SOUTH OF JOHANNESBURG’S CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
• BRIAN THOMAS FROM CHROME CORPORATION, DEVELOPING A PROJECT IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH THE RESOURCES TO PRODUCE CHROME PRODUCTS FOR UP TO TEN YEARS.
• DEEP YELLOW LIMITED, REPRESENTED HERE TODAY BY DR LEON PRETORIUS. DEEP YELLOW IS URANIUM EXPLORATION COMPANY WITH OPERATIONS IN NAMIBIA AND AUSTRALIA.
• CRAIG WILLIAMS FROM EQUINOX, CURRENTLY DEVELOPING THE MASSIVE LUMWANA PROJECT IN ZAMBIA.
• TONY GREY FROM INTERNATIONAL FERRO METALS. THE PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF IFM’S SOUTH AFRICAN OPERATIONS EXCEEDS THREE PER CENT OF WORLD FERRO CHROME SUPPLIES; AND IFM PLAN TO INCREASE PRODUCTION CAPACITY 250 PER CENT BY 2011.
• JOHN BORSHOFF FROM PALADIN ENERGY WHOSE NEW NAMIBIAN URANIUM MINE I WITNESSED OPENED BY PRESIDENT POHAMBA LAST YEAR. PALADIN HAVE SINCE MOVED QUICKLY ON TO DEVELOP A MAJOR NEW PROJECT IN MALAWI WHICH WILL, WHEN COMPLETE, CONTRIBUTE AT LEAST A QUARTER OF MALAWI’S EXPORT EARNINGS.
• FROM PLATINUM AUSTRALIA JOHN LEWINS – ABOUT TO COMMENCE PRODUCTION FROM ITS SMOKEY HILLS PROJECT, AND WITH ANOTHER SOUTH AFRICAN PLATINUM PROJECT ALSO ON THE DRAWING BOARD.
• PETER SULLIVAN FROM RESOLUTE MINING. WITH A MARKET CAPITALISATION OF AROUND FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, RESOLUTE ALREADY HAS WELL ESTABLISHED GOLD MINING ACTIVITIES IN TANZANIA, MALI AND GHANA.
• MICHAEL O’KEEFFE FROM RIVERSDALE MINING, WELL DOWN THE TRACK TO DEVELOPING MOZAMBIQUE’S COAL RESERVES.
• AND FROM ZAMBEZI RESOURCES, GEOFFREY JOHNSON – FOCUSSING ON COPPER AND GOLD PROJECTS IN SOUTHERN ZAMBIA.
I THINK YOU WILL AGREE THAT THIS REPRESENTS A REMARKABLY WIDE RANGE OF PROJECTS, ACROSS DIVERSE MINERAL GROUPS, AND A VERY WIDE GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD.
TO OUR GUESTS FROM GOVERNMENTS ACROSS AFRICA, I URGE YOU TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW THESE AUSTRALIANS, WHO ARE AT THE CORE OF THE ARRAY OF AUSTRALIAN MINING DEVELOPMENTS IN AFRICA.
I ALSO URGE YOU TO GET TO KNOW BILL REPARD – PLEASE ALSO STAND, BILL – MINISTERS, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY RELEVANT TO AFRICA, THERE IS NO BETTER PERSON TO ASK THAN, BILL REPARD WHO PUBLISHES THE NEWS MAGAZINE PAYDIRT AND ORGANISES THE ANNUAL AFRICA DOWNUNDER CONFERENCE, WHICH I HOPE EACH OF YOU WILL ATTEND.
HONOURABLE MINISTERS, AUSTRALIA’S MINING INDUSTRY IS BACKED BY WORLD CLASS TECHNOLOGY, SKILLS AND SUPPORT. SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S GREAT MINING SERVICE COMPANIES ARE ALSO REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.
THEY ARE:
• SNOWDEN CONSULTING SERVICES,
• MICROMINE, IT SPECIALISTS WHO SUPPORT EVERY STAGE OF THE MINING PROCESS,
• ENGINEERS AND CONSTRUCTORS GRD MINPROC,
• SAMPLES ANALYSTS GENALYSIS,
• INNOVATIVE MINERAL PROCESSING EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS GEKKO,
• INTEGRATED SOFTWARE SUPPLIERS ENCOM,
• ADG GLOBAL SUPPLY, SUPPLIERS OF DRILLING, MINING AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT,
• SUPPLIERS OF CONSUMABLE WEAR PARTS CQMS,
• WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS CUBE,
• CONSULTANTS AND PROJECT MANAGERS COFFEY MINING,
• AND, FINALLY, AUSENCO, PROVIDERS OF INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
WE AUSTRALIANS LIKE TO WORK AS A TEAM – AND THE TEAM AROUND US TODAY IS MORE THAN MINING COMPANIES AND THEIR SERVICE PROVIDERS:
• I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU ROMILA PRASAD FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN STATE OF QUEENSLAND. QUEENSLAND COMPANIES ARE EXPERT IN A WIDE RANGE OF FIELDS INCLUDING - EXPLORATON AND SUSTAINABLE MINING, MINE SAFETY, PRODUCT QUALITY AND ENVIORNMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
• THE AUSTRALIA-AFRICA BUSINESS COUNCIL IS REPRESENTED TODAY BY LISA BROWNE. THE AABC IS THE PEAK NON-GOVERNMENTAL BODY PROMOTING TRADE BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND AFRICA.
• FINALLY, I WANT TO INTRODUCE PETER YOUNG, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EXPORT FINANCE INSURANCE CORPORATION. EFIC IS AUSTRALIA’S EXPORT CREDIT AGENCY, AND PROVIDES SPECIALIST FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE SERVICES TO AUSTRALIAN CORPORATES. AS A RECENT EXAMPLE, EFIC COMMITTED FORTY-THREE MILLION DOLLARS TO THE FINANCIAL FACILITY FOR EQUINOX’S DEVELOPMENT OF THE LUMWANA COPPER MINE IN ZAMBIA.
HONOURABLE MINISTERS, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IS PROUD TO STAND BEHIND THESE COMPANIES AND INSTITUTIONS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENGAGE WITH THEM, TODAY, AND FOR THE DURATION OF THIS CONFERENCE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE THIS LOUNGE YOUR HOME UNTIL THURSDAY.
THESE PEOPLE ARE ESTABLISHING MINES, CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR ECONOMIES, AND HELPING BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR AFRICA.
BUT THEY ARE DOING MORE THAN THAT. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN AUSTRALIA’S RELATIONS WITH AFRICA FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS, I SUGGEST THAT AUSTRALIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN MINING IS NOT JUST DEVELOPING RESOURCES. IT IS BUILDING A NEW AND ENDURING BOND BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS AND PEOPLES OF AUSTRALIA AND AFRICA. THE INVOLVEMENT OF AUSTRALIANS IN MINING IS, IN MY VIEW, THE MOST IMPORTANT DYNAMIC IN AUSTRALIA’S RELATIONS WITH AFRICA TODAY.
SO I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER AUSTRALIA’S MINING EXPERTISE, AND TO HELP US PLAN HOW THAT CAN BE HARNESSED TO BUILD AFRICA’S FUTURE. I LOOK FORWARD TO A GROWING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TWO GREAT MINING CONTINENTS – AUSTRALIA AND AFRICA.