May 2026 – PanAfGeo

PanAfGeo+ Workshop Advances Dialogue on Harmonised Mineral Resource Governance in South Africa

Posted on May 13, 2026 by krishnan

The PanAfGeo+ National AMREC/PARC – UNFC Workshop successfully concluded in Pretoria, South Africa, bringing together representatives from government institutions, geological surveys, academia, industry, and international organisations from across Africa and Europe.

Held under the PanAfGeo+ African Expert Networks (SO1) activities, the two-day workshop focused on advancing dialogue and practical understanding of the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC), the Africa Mining Resource Classification System (AMREC), and the Pan-African Resource Classification (PARC).

Participants engaged in policy discussions, technical sessions, case studies, and practical exercises exploring harmonised mineral resource reporting, governance approaches, and implementation pathways aligned with the Africa Mining Vision and Agenda 2063.

The workshop highlighted the importance of expert networks, multistakeholder collaboration, and Africa–Europe partnerships in strengthening sustainable and transparent mineral resource management across the continent. Experts from African and European institutions shared experiences related to reporting systems, governance frameworks, inventories, and capacity-building approaches, fostering dialogue and exchange between participants from different sectors.

Slavko Šolar, Geological Survey of Slovenia, noted that: “The level of engagement and exchange throughout the workshop has been very encouraging. It reflects a strong commitment across Africa and Europe to strengthening harmonised approaches to mineral resource governance and cooperation.”

Tunde Muritala Arisekola, African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), added: “Workshops like this are essential for building long-term capacity and strengthening collaboration between institutions. Through knowledge sharing and practical dialogue, we support countries in advancing more sustainable and informed approaches to resource management.”

The PanAfGeo+ programme, funded by the European Commission, continues to foster collaboration between African and European Geological Surveys, supporting technical development, expert networks, and knowledge exchange across the geoscience community.

PanAfGeo+ Country Window DRC Officially Launched in Kinshasa

Posted on May 13, 2026May 13, 2026 by krishnan

19–20 March 2026 | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The PanAfGeo+ Country Window for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CW DRC) was officially launched on 19–20 March 2026 in Kinshasa, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Mines of the DRC, the European Union Delegation, European and African partners, geological institutions, technical experts, and stakeholders from across the mining and geoscience sectors.

Held at the Hotel Pullman in Kinshasa, the event marked an important milestone in strengthening Africa–Europe cooperation in geosciences, critical raw materials, and sustainable mineral development.

The opening session featured remarks from Fabrice Basile, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation in the DRC, Laurent Sillano from DG INTPA, and H.E. Louis Watum Kabamba, Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the ceremony, the Terms of Reference for the PanAfGeo+ Country Window DRC were officially signed, reaffirming the shared commitment between European and Congolese partners to jointly implement the initiative.

The PanAfGeo+ Country Window DRC is coordinated by BRGM – the French Geological Survey – in collaboration with the Congolese Geological Survey (SGN-C) and a broad consortium of European and Congolese partners. The initiative aims to support the Ministry of Mines and national institutions in strengthening geoscientific capacity, improving geological data acquisition and management, and promoting responsible investment opportunities in the mining sector.

The project is structured around five main work packages:

Evaluation of Geological Research Zones (ZRG)
Development and management of the Geological Digital Database (BNDG)
Evaluation of artisanal mining zones, mining waste and decarbonisation activities
Capacity building and technical training
Project management, coordination and communication

The discussions highlighted the importance of geological knowledge in supporting informed decision-making, reducing investment risks, and strengthening sustainable resource governance in the DRC. Participants also emphasised the need to progressively improve access to geological data and reinforce institutional cooperation.

Throughout the meeting, international partners including AfricaMuseum, BRGM Explore, FERDI, ILB, AWIMA/WIM DRC, DMT-KB and LGI presented their planned contributions to the project, ranging from geological assessments and mapping activities to ESG training, investment facilitation, communication, project management, and stakeholder engagement.

The second day focused on technical coordination and implementation procedures, including timelines, governance structures, financial regulations, stakeholder responsibilities, and upcoming operational actions across all work packages.

Participants further discussed the importance of long-term cooperation between African institutions, European Geological Surveys, universities, development partners, and local stakeholders in strengthening geological knowledge and supporting sustainable development linked to critical raw materials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The PanAfGeo+ programme is funded by the European Union under the Global Gateway strategy and implemented through partnerships between African and European geological surveys and institutions.

PanAfGeo+ INVEST Officially Launched in Kinshasa to Strengthen Africa-Europe Cooperation on Critical Raw Materials

Posted on May 13, 2026May 13, 2026 by krishnan

17-18 March 2026 | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The PanAfGeo+ INVEST Kick-off Meeting officially took place on 17-18 March 2026 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, bringing together partners and stakeholders from across Africa and Europe to launch a new phase of collaboration on critical raw materials, geological knowledge, and sustainable investment. The meeting marked the official start of the PanAfGeo+ INVEST component and provided an opportunity to present the programme’s objectives, governance structure, work packages, and Country Window activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, and South Africa.

The opening session highlighted the strong commitment of the European Union Delegation in the DRC, the Ministry of Mines of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and institutional partners to strengthening Africa–Europe cooperation in geosciences and responsible mineral resource development.

PanAfGeo+ builds on the achievements of previous phases of the programme (2016–2024), which engaged 22 African countries and trained more than 1,700 geoscience professionals across the continent. The initiative also extends the AfricaMaVal programme, which identified around 100 investment opportunities through collaboration between African and European partners.

With a planned budget of approximately €51 million between 2025 and 2029, PanAfGeo+ aims to support sustainable management of geological resources, strengthen geoscientific capacity, and improve the enabling environment for investment linked to critical raw materials.

Throughout the two-day meeting, participants discussed:

EU mining investment facilitation
Strategic intelligence and analytical services
CRM project pipeline development
Communication and dialogue in geoscience
Country Window activities in the DRC, Namibia, and South Africa

The discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration between African institutions, European Geological Surveys, development partners, and technical experts in strengthening geological knowledge and supporting sustainable mineral development.

A dedicated session on communication and dialogue in geoscience, coordinated by EuroGeoSurveys (EGS), emphasised the importance of visibility, coordinated communication, and promoting dialogue between African and European partners under a unified PanAfGeo+ identity.

The second day focused on implementation and coordination, including governance structures, financial procedures, stakeholder engagement, and recommendations from the Advisory Board. Participants also explored the future PanAfGeo+ INVEST Forum, designed to support knowledge sharing, matchmaking, dissemination of project results, and investment dialogue across the critical raw materials value chain.

Participants further underlined the importance of improving geological data accessibility, reinforcing African institutional ownership, and strengthening long-term Africa–Europe cooperation in support of sustainable development and responsible resource governance.

The momentum of the initiative continues with the launch of the PanAfGeo+ Country Window DRC activities immediately following the kick-off meeting.

The PanAfGeo+ programme is funded by the European Union under the Global Gateway strategy and implemented through partnerships between African and European geological surveys and institutions.

PanAfGeo+ at Mining Indaba 2026: Strengthening Africa–Europe Cooperation in Geosciences

Posted on May 13, 2026May 13, 2026 by krishnan

Cape Town, South Africa | Mining Indaba 2026

PanAfGeo+ participated in Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, engaging with stakeholders from across Africa and Europe to highlight the role of geoscience in supporting sustainable investment, resource governance, and long-term development.

Throughout the event, PanAfGeo+ was present at the European Commission – Team Europe Booth (T152), where discussions focused on current and future activities under the PanAfGeo+ programme, including the Invest Component and Country Windows in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, and South Africa.

A key highlight of the week was the celebration marking the launch of the new phase of PanAfGeo+, which brought together around 100 participants from geological surveys, European and African institutions, development partners, and the wider geoscience community.

The event highlighted the growing importance of geosciences in Africa’s development agenda and provided a platform for dialogue on sustainable resource management, investment, resilience, and regional cooperation.

Participants were honoured to welcome:

Myriam Ferran, Deputy Director-General, DG INTPA, European Commission
Tirza van Daalen, President of EuroGeoSurveys (EGS)
Gabriel Data, President of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS)

The panel discussions and exchanges throughout the event reinforced the importance of strong Africa–Europe partnerships and collaborative expert networks in advancing sustainable and responsible development of mineral resources.

With €21 million committed to the Invest Component and Country Windows, the new phase of PanAfGeo+ marks an important step forward in strengthening geoscientific capacity, partnerships, and investment support across Africa.

Pictures from the PanAfGeo+ launch celebration at Mining Indaba 2026 are available here.