Tag Archives: minerals

    Could adoption of continental mining vision propel country’s development agenda? Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | It is an open secret that Uganda sits on a geological treasure map. From gold-rich belts in the country’s northeastern province of Karamoja to deposits of critical transition minerals now prized by global clean-energy …

With new polishing hubs, traceability standards, and policy reforms, the continent is seeking a bigger share of diamond wealth SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | A new diamond polishing facility in South Africa has sparked discussions about beneficiation and ethical trade, as the continent seeks to capture more value from …

Africa is setting the terms for the new scramble for its minerals by pooling regional strengths and mobilizing capital. Several nations are tightening export rules, demanding more local processing and value addition as the global competition for its mineral resources heightens to power the latest ambitions in tech. SPECIAL REPORT …

“Uganda’s oil and gas story is still being written. But it cannot be told in full without recognising the leadership that turned forgotten potential into an opportunity for generations.” COMMENT | DR FRED KABAGAMBE-KALIISA |  Veteran Ugandan journalist Tonny Owana recently shared a 1980 article by Ilakut Ben Bella, first …

Uganda bets on ICGLR’s mineral certification mechanism as it battles for legitimacy in the global gold market COVER STORY | RONALD MUSOKE | For years, Uganda has carried the uncomfortable label of being “the gold laundering capital of Africa.” Watchdog reports, including investigations by the UN Panel on the Illegal Exploitation of …

How international involvement in the affairs of these two countries has complicated internal conflict resolution THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | The DRC and Ukraine may be geographically and culturally apart but they share many similarities. DRC is the second largest country in Africa, after Algeria. Ukraine is the second largest …

Zambia and South Africa are leading Africa in laying the groundwork to transform their vast mineral wealth into platforms for research, clean-tech development, and innovation. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Zambia, South Africa, and other African countries are seeding mining innovation ecosystems that could shift their role in the …

‘Coltan moves from DR Congo to EU via Rwanda’ ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | All actors in the supply chain of illicit mineral exports, from operators of the mines to end product users, need to be held accountable for sustaining the bloodbath in the conflict-riven eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). That …

The West African nation is shaking up its gold sector with bold reforms aimed at keeping more wealth at home. But can it sustain investor confidence while tightening the screws on foreign miners? SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Mali is playing a high-stakes game with its gold sector, shaking …

  Attracting ‘proper’ mining companies could bring peace, say experts COVER STORY | RONALD MUSOKE | Barrick Gold Corporation was until 2019 the largest mining company in the world. With operating revenue of US$12.922 billion (Uganda’s GDP is about US$50 billion), Barrick Gold is the kind of mining company that experts …