Zambia is overly reliant on copper, and yet copper mining remains key to the country’s future. The long-term prospects for copper are appealing, given its broad array of applications to modern technology. Current policy conditions for copper production …

Mining is not typically associated with visions of a circular economy, where waste is transformed into inputs for ecologically safe outputs. But if the world is to transition to a low-carbon future – a fundamental imperative if we are to avoid warming …

Africa’s mineral resources are important to the EU, and a large number of EU-listed or -based mining companies operate in African countries. The extent to which host-country rules constrain the behaviour of companies sufficiently to ensure that they be …

In July 2018, without public consultation or scientific substantiation, South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) raised its annual lion skeleton export quota to 1,500, up from 800 the year before. These skeletons are supplied by the pre …

A relatively small proportion of Tanzania’s rural population has access to electricity. Broad-based access to electricity is critical to inclusive, sustainable development. Electrification entails significant positive benefits; its absence portends sig …

Mining is central to development progress in a number of African countries. Natural resource endowment has, however, produced suboptimal development outcomes in weakly institutionalised contexts. This paper locates the extractive industries within the …

The convergence of political, economic, social and environmental dynamics is accelerating in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In this new world of ‘always on’ technology the mining sector, like many others, needs to adapt and align with the …

Khama Rhino Sanctuary lies just west of the A14, Botswana’s main highway connecting Serowe to Orapa. White and black rhinos take pride of place here: it’s one of the few places where they are safe. The sanctuary, a community-led project, is protected b …

From smartphones to 3D manufacturing, the Fourth Industrial Revolution will need our minerals and metals, writes Ross Harvey.  Investment in mineral and metals exploration in Africa has been declining sharply (especially in South Africa), despite a for …

Mining, though contributing a declining share to the South African economy, is still a significant employer and earner of foreign exchange revenue. It has a troubled past and, for good reason, was one of the first targets of Black Economic Empowerment …

Tanzania faces significant development challenges. While gross domestic product growth remains relatively impressive, many sectors are growing off a small base. Both the longevity of the acceleration and the quality of the growth are in question. Tanza …

Tanzania first discovered natural gas in commercially viable quantities in 2010. In March 2016, another major gas discovery of 2.7 trillion cubic feet (TCF), estimated at a value of some $8 billion was made in the Ruvu Basin Coast Region. This brings T …

“The demand for ivory products exceeds the available supply of elephant tusks, resulting in the extensive illegal killing of elephants. It is therefore imperative that demand-reduction campaigns help consumers to make the link between elephant poaching …

“If Botswana is to continue its success story as an African anomaly, it will have to manage its transition to a less diamond-dependent economy skilfully. Until alternative and new sources of economic growth can be found, eco-tourism will be the keyston …

“Botswana is water scarce, with endemic drought and varied rainfall. In order to meet increases in water demand efficiently and sustainably, greater policy coherence and implementation is needed. The government acknowledges the principles of integrated …

Botswana is at a critical historical juncture. It has enjoyed a stable democracy since 1965 and strong, quality economic growth for the last few decades. However, the diamond revenues on which the country depends are likely to decline in the near futur …

“African elephants face an escalating poaching crisis due to an explosion in demand for ivory, mostly in China. Over 100 000 elephants were killed illegally between 2010 and 2012. This paper synthesises the relevant economic literature on elephant cons …

“Botswana is typically perceived as a development anomaly on the continent. With a stable democracy and strong economic growth since 1966, the country’s success is in danger of being taken for granted. Diamond revenues are likely to decline in the near …

“This paper has argued that Africa’s recent growth episode is encouraging on some levels, but substantial questions remain over governance quality, uneven improvement in social indicators and the volatility of resource concentrated growth. Improved gov …

Botswana possesses substantial coal deposits of 212 billion tonnes, the majority of which are low grade. Under favourable conditions, and until solar power becomes a feasible option for supplying baseload electricity, this coal could be either exported …

The paper begins with an overview of the economic geography of projected oil dependence in Africa, concentrated in the Gulf of Guinea and the Rift Valley respectively. Secondly, it briefly reviews the literature that attempts to understand why oil weal …

This briefing has shown that deep-pocketed Chinese companies, hungry for resources, may be willing to strike bargains with politically connected local opportunists such as Aurora or SOEs such as the IDC, whose mandate is stretched at best. If the IDC/P …

“Africa is blessed with an abundance of mineral resources, yet it remains poor by most measures. Recent high growth rates have yet to translate into inclusive development. The continent must harness its mineral wealth to build human capital and industr …

“The South African platinum belt provides a microcosm through which to explore a number of fault lines in the country’s political economy two decades into its democratic dispensation. After the Marikana tragedy of August 2012, the need to forge a new s …

“The Simandou Mountain Range in Guinea possesses the world’s last substantial ‘tier-one’ iron ore deposit. Discovered in 1997, mining has yet to begin. Rio Tinto acquired the original exploration rights but invested little in it. In 2008, two years aft …