FIRST ECOWAS JAPAN BUSINESS FORUM

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND
COLLABORATION IN THE MINING SECTOR

Presented by: Dr Kalilou TRAORE, Commissioner in charge ofIndustry and Priuvate Sector Promotion / ECOWAS Commission
Tokyo, 28 october 2015
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CONTENT

1. Regional mining context
2. Strategic objectives in the mining sector
3. Business opportunities and possible collaboration
with private sector
4. Conclusion

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REGIONAL MINING CONTEXT A region well endowed with mineral
resources and Attractive policies for privatesector
 ECOWAS is rich mineral resources : Gold,Manganese, Copper, Bauxite, Iron, Zinc, Nickel,Phosphates, Diamond, Uranium, etc..
 40% of the world’s Bauxite resources, 5% foruranium Large world-class iron deposit, 4% of the world’s
iron resources GOLD is the major foreign exchange earner of thesector accounting for 84% of the USD 8.5 billion
from export in 2010, followed bybauxite,phosphate, uranium and diamonds
 Attractive national mining policies whichstrengthen foreign private sector investment.

 Sector guided by regional and international
institutions has allowed the opening of asignificant number of mining operations andresults in significant weight in GDP and export
earnings.

3REGIONAL MINING CONTEXT A mining potential yet to be fully exploited / Main challenges
 Weak geological information and infrastructure; in most countries, thegeological context remains poorly known and under-explored.
 Predominance of artisanal mining in particular for Gold, generating
negative impacts on the environment and human health.
 Lack of transport and energy infrastructure which are an obstacle to thedevelopment of many known deposits including substances such as
manganese, iron and bauxite, which can not be transported by train to theore ports
 Very low processing of raw products locally causing very little added
value to the mining industry because the region exports almost allcommodities it produces, mostly unwrought.
 Taking better account of the environmental aspect by thesystematization of environmental impact studies for all mining activities(mines, quarries, etc. ..) The low impact of the development of mines on the surrounding
population and local industry – Need to promote Local Content4

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES IN THE MINING SECTOR
 Mandate in Mining sector
 Towards the Community to have a well-organized, minimally-varied, developed
geo-extractives sector .
Member States to realize optimal benefits from their mineral and petroleum
resources.

 Operating Mandate derived from Revised ECOWAS TreatyArticle 31.1 that ‘Member States shall harmonize and co-ordinate theirpolicies and programmes in the field of natural resources’.

Article 31.2d – Member States shall coordinate their programmes fordevelopment and utilization of mineral and water resources

 In consequence of which the Directorate is focused on engaging in regional
activities on mining to enhance the development of the Geo-extractives Sector
in its broader terms.

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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES IN THE MINING SECTOR
 Some policy developments to adress the main challenges
 There are adopted an ECOWAS Mineral Development Policy (EMDP) and an
ECOWAS Directive on Harmonization of Guiding Principles and Policies in theMining Sector.
And, among others

 The Commission is advanced in the process to procure services towards
formulation of an ECOWAS Mining & Minerals Development Act (Code,EMMDA), ECOWAS Hydrocarbons Development Policy (EHDP), and a technicalfeasibility report for an ECOWAS Geo-extractives Observatory & Cadastre
System.
 Preparations are also ongoing to secure services for a technical feasibility reporton an ECOWAS Geo-extractives Database & Statistical Information Reporting
Framework to guide how we report our development progress in the Sector.
 ECOWAS remain engaged in developing well-structured, collaborative stakeholder
relationships to work towards the development of the Sector.

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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES IN THE MINING SECTOR
 Towards Achieving the Mandate of Mining Directorate

 Continue to develop, facilitate, enhance, and eventually scale-up
constructive
regional-stakeholder
engagements/partnershipprocesses (collaborations).

 Continue to harmonize/develop integrated, sustainable ECOWAS
mineral & mining regimes (Frameworks) including that for Transboundary mineral deposits.
 Establish and regularly update an integrated-utility andfunctionally-useful mineral & mining database of the ECOWAS
region.
 Support/facilitate/participate
inmutually-beneficial
regional
initiatives of other intergovernmental institutions (e.g. African Union
Commission).
 Develop and facilitate the implementation of visible, Model-regional
Sustainable Development Programmes/Projects (particularly)
within mineral resource-rich communities of Member States.
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KEY AREA OF COLLABORATION AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Supporting the establishment of a functional ECOWAS Geo-extractives
Observatory & Cadastre System.
 Supporting the development and implementation of an ECOWAS Geoextractives Database & Statistical Information Reporting Framework.
 Implementation of integrated mining project (Mines development –Transport commodities: Mineral railroad, Ore terminal, Energy commoditiesetc…) in most ECOWAS member states Development of Mineral processing Industries within the region
 Gold refining, Ferromanganese plant,
 Steel plant, Mechanization of gold panning etc…
8CONCLUSION
 Regarding the mining sector, despite the rich potential that abound in the region,
it’s still plays a minimal role in the economic development of the region.
 Therefore, the Commission will continue its efforts to support the Member States
and the private sector through policies and structural projects to see therealization of the geo-extractives sectors in ECOWAS Region providing thenecessary catalytic, integrated-push as development agents, for the well-being ofour peoples.
 ECOWAS is looking for your active participation and support to its different
projects in the mining sector, to strengthen the development of thegeoextractible sector in the region.

The cardinal principles underlying our programmes and activities in these sectors
shall remain human centred.

The Vision is – Moving from an ECOWAS of States to an EOWAS of People.
9Thank you for your kindattention10