The government is looking at geophysical scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators to come up with ideas to grow the economy and create employment opportunities, this is according to the deputy minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Nobuhle Nkabane while speaking a the 17th annual Geophysical Association Conference in Sun City outside Rustenburg, North West.
The three day conference convened under the theme: “Reconnect, Reimagine”, comes at a time when the government is facing criticism for convening summits and other gatherings that are not coming with long term solutions for growing the economy and creating jobs.
Nkabane highlighted that the country’s mineral resources present a golden opportunity for innovative solutions, “As government we remain the custodian of policy formulation and regulation to enable the optimal exploration, extraction, and processing of our mineral resources.
“In this regard we are guided by the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) 2002 which entrusts the State with the custodianship of all minerals beneath the soil on behalf of the people as a whole.
“Whilst we endeavour to ensure appropriate policies, we are guided by industry experts on what is practicable on exploration, extraction, and processing of our minerals. We have set ourselves a target to attract at least 5% of global exploration budgets because we believe we have a lot to offer on our mineral endowment.
“But again, those of us who hold political office and are often social scientists would be unable to determine whether such minerals exist in the first place and, if so, in what quantity and quality. We rely on your expertise in this regard.
“Another aspect very relevant on this occasion which I suppose if succinctly captured by your overall theme: “Reconnect, Re-imagine”, is how our minerals relate to the overall economy. Historically, South Africa has been a mining country, popular with minerals such as gold, diamond and coal.
“However, like in many former African colonies, South Africa did not accrue maximum benefit from minerals that were exported as commodities as opposed to beneficiated manufactures, ” said Nkabinde
A committee member of the organising body Reece van Buren said the North West was picked to host the event because of its vast mining industry.
“The region has an exceptionally long heritage, and is a significant component of the mining exploration industry. Numerous companies are present in operating in the region, joining in local communities, developing local communities and we try to move it around the country and to explore the geoheritage that we have in the different regions”, said Van Buren.
