AMSG Secretary-General calls for Africa to Do Local Beneficiation to benefit from its Vast Minerals

The Secretary-General of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group His Excellency Moses Micheal Engadu has called for Africa to do local beneficiation (value addition) to benefit from its vast minerals.

While giving a keynote address at the 1st Malawi Mining Investment Forum on Tuesday, 23rd April 2024 at the BICC, Lilongwe, Malawi, under the theme: “Transforming the Nation through Sustainable Mineral Extraction”, the AMSG Secretary-General highlighted that Malawi and Africa are generously endowed with vast mineral resources. However, we have not turned these vast natural resources to greatly benefit our countries and people because these have mostly been exported as raw materials thereby missing out on job creation for our young people, industrialisation and economic development. Africa’s Mining Industry is also largely structured around a “pit to port” model that channels our mineral ores elsewhere for processing.

“ Malawi and Africa must go all out, insist and be consistent to demand that there must be local value addition on our minerals. We must not fold when faced with pressure, threats and blackmail. We must collectively say that ‘No minerals shall leave our borders as primary raw materials’. I promise you with great certainty that, if we do this and not waiver, we shall win, our people will benefit, our nations will be transform and our continent will prosper,” said His Excellency Moses Micheal Engadu

We can’t afford to continue doing the same things and expect to maximize the benefits from our minerals

His Excellency Moses Micheal Engadu in his keynote address highlighted:

“We know that currently there are many things and forces skewed against Africa. But we must identify our comparative and competitive advantages, so that we change the playing field to suit us. We can’t afford to continue doing the same things and expect to maximize the benefits from our minerals. We must prioritize Mining as a Catalyst and accelerator of our countries socio-economic growth. We must invest good money in the Mining Sector to unlock the immense potential it has. Remember you reap what you sow – Galatians 6:7-8.”

On collaboration and cooperation, the AMSG Secretary-General informed the forum that:

“Malawi and Africa are stronger, more respected and an unbreakable force when we unite, work together and push for a common agenda”.

Africa urgently needs to foster collaboration among African countries to greatly benefit from its vast unexplored and largely untapped mineral wealth especially the significant reserves of critical minerals and rare earth elements that are essential for energy transition and in combatting the climate change crisis. Malawi and Africa must therefore play a key role in the critical minerals agenda and in shaping the global energy transition.

It is for this reason that the African Ministers of Minerals and Mining during the third Future Minerals Forum on the 9th of January 2024 met and established the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) with the primary purpose of facilitating international cooperation in the minerals and mining sector among Member African Nations and to work closely with interested nations and strategic partners to explore investment opportunities and contribute to the future economic development in the mining sector in member African countries.

His Excellency Moses Micheal Engadu recognised and appreciated Honourable Monica Chang’anamuno Minister of Mining of the Republic of Malawi, Honourable Martin Gama Abucha Minister of Mining of the Republic of South Sudan who were both present at the Forum together their counterpart Ministers from 14 other Founding Member countries for the exceptional leadership in the establishment of this important vehicle, shield and dedicated platform to coordinate, advance and protect Africa’s strategic interests especially the local beneficiation of our minerals.

His Excellency Moses Micheal Engadu expressed his pleasure that the Republic of Malawi will during the Forum sign and ratify the Africa Minerals Strategy Group Charter and thanked His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi for his great support and commitment towards this legacy Pan-African initiative. “Please continue to support and keep you door open for us”, said H.E Engadu.

The AMSG Secretary-General commended the Government of the Republic of Malawi under the great foresighted leadership of His Excellency President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for the ATM Strategy. The ATM (Agriculture, Tourism, Mining) is a game changer. “Mining holds a great promise for unlocking Malawi’s vast potential for achieving job creation, wealth creation and food security,” said H.E Engadu.

His Excellency Moses Micheal Engadu also urged for a “Mindset Change and Mental Cultural Shift” if Malawi and Africa are to benefit from our God given minerals and offered the Africa Minerals Strategy Group’s unwavering commitment and support as you build a New Malawi. “The New Malawi is already a reality and all of us being here today for the inaugural Malawi Mining Investment Forum is a testament to that,” said H.E Engadu

Find the full Speech by His Excellency Moses Micheal Engadu, Secretary-General of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group

While opening the 1st Malawi Mining Investment Forum, the convener, Malawi’s President His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera made a clarion call for African countries to collaborate and cooperation to achieve prosperity, saying “Together Africa can rise”.

President Chakwera further called for the protection of minerals and signing contracts that guarantee return on investment for Malawi and its people.

“If we love our country, protect our minerals, provide the required infrastructure and refuse to sign any Contracts that don’t guarantee return on investment for Malawi and its people. The people of Malawi deserve to be the primay beneficiaries of all the mining riches of their country” – H.E Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi

Hon. Monica Chang’anamuno, Minister of Mining, Malawi highlighted the following in her address:

Today, we convene for the 2024 Malawi Mining Investment Forum with a shared vision to unlock the diverse potential of our nation’s mining sector and pave way for sustainable growth and development.

The leadership and unwavering commitment of H.E Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi to the progress of our nation has been very instrumental in driving positive change across all the sectors including mining. The presence of President Chakwera at the Forum is a testament to his dedication to the advancement of Malawi’s Mining Sector.

As we embark on this historic Forum, we stand at a critical juncture in Malawi’s mining journey. The opportunities that lie before us are vast and the challenges we face are significant. However, I am confident that through collaboration, innovation and a shared sense of interest we can overcome these hurdles and unlock the full potential of our mining sector for the benefit of all Malawians.

The 2024 Malawi Mining Investment Forum serves as a platform for dialogue, exchange ideas and forging partnerships that will drive sustainable investment and growth in our mining industry. This presents an opportunity for Malawi to showcase its rich mineral wealth highlighting the available investment opportunities and demonstrating our commitment to responsible and inclusive mining practices.

The Republic of Malawi is a Founding Member Nation of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group.

The Africa Minerals Strategy Group is an intergovernmental body established to facilitate international cooperation in the minerals and mining sector among member African nations and work closely with strategic partners to harness the potential of Africa’s vast minerals reserves for mutual benefit. The 16 AMSG Founding Member Nations include Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. AMSG is open to all Sovereign African nations and several African countries are in the process of joining the group.

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