There have been several changes globally as well as in West Africa’s mining industry, with the industry steadily embracing a more sustainable approach to mining, highlights SRK associate partner principal resource geologist and country manager Ivan Doku.
Previously, mining in the region was largely dominated by majors and midtier mining companies, and SRK’s focus was on providing mining geotechnical services for large projects.
Although major players are still active in the region, there has been a shift towards smaller firms entering West African mining industries, owed, in part, to many governments in the region seeking to formalise small-scale mining, says Doku.
He adds that many of the relatively easy and large mining exploration targets in Ghana, for instance, have been well explored and mined. Consequently, there is growing scope for companies that are geared towards exploring and exploiting smaller footprints with relative ease.
There has also been greater emphasis on promoting local ownership and involvement in the West African mining sector, notes Doku.
Read the full article in Mining Weekly
