The PanAfGeo team and representatives from member countries attended the Mining Indaba 2022 conference in Cape Town, South Africa. During the conference the PanAfGeo Project showed active participation at the various events of the EU Delegation in South Africa for the duration of the week.
Click here to view the Mining Indaba 2022 conference pictures.
PANAFGEO-2 SPECIAL SESSION: A STRONGER AFRICA – EU GEO-SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION PROGRAM
On 9 May 2022, The PanAfGeo community met in Cape Town during the course of the “Investing in African Mining” Indaba week to discuss collaboration amongst the African and European partners, particularly the Geological Surveys. The meeting was held in-person and had representatives from across Europe and Africa.
Four keynote speakers set the stage for the discussions that followed:
• Rasa Jautakaite-Tunaitiene, Delegation of the European Union to South Africa
• Jean-Claude Guillaneau, PanAfGeo Coordinator – French Geological Survey (BRGM)
• David Khoza, Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS)
• Frank Mugyenyi, Minerals Africa Development Institution (MADI)
The session was opened by Rasa Jautakaite-Tunaitiene, who explained the importance of scientific cooperation and its relevance to the Africa-EU Partnership. Ms Jautakaite-Tunaitiene emphasized development and cooperation activities between the two continents by using the example of the PanAfGeo Project, and how it paves the way for future Africa-EU cooperation in line with high-level policy dialogues on the green transition.
Jean-Claude Guillaneau, PanAfGeo Project Coordinator, gave an overview of the project, showcasing the outcomes of the first phase of PanAfGeo after its successful conclusion led to the second phase. Mr Guillaneau highlighted the importance of co-leadership between the European and African partners, and how crucial it was to ensure direct involvement of the African Geological Surveys and promote participation from their countries. The significance of the Africa-EU Partnership was underlined by David Khoza, who provided an overview of the efforts and involvement of OAGS throughout the project, and the link they provide to the African Union. Frank Mugyeni then accentuated the importance of mineral resources in the context of Africa-EU cooperation, noting in particular the African Union’s recently established African Mineral and Energy Resources Classification and Management System (AMREC). He welcomed the fact that PanAfGeo has generated a greater interest in the sector and hopes that those who have benefited from the trainings on offer will go on to become job creators themselves, passing on the skills they have acquired.
Click here to view/download the PanAfGeo-2 Special Session report.
