Archive Category: Media Coverage

The latest session of the PanAfGeo project, titled “Modélisation géologique 3D multicouche par approche géostatistique,” was successfully concluded in Dakar, Senegal. The ceremony marked the end of a comprehensive 10-day training program held from July 1 – 12th, 2024.

 

Hosted by the Service Géologique National du Sénégal (SGNS), the session attracted 16 dedicated trainees, including 12 men and 4 women, from nine French-speaking African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Niger, and Senegal.

 

Opening Ceremony:

The opening ceremony was graced by prominent figures in the field:

• Dr. Nicolas CLAUSOLLES, Specialist in 3D Geological Modeling from BRGM-Service Géologique National de la France.
• Dr. Rokhaya SAMBA DIENE, Director General of SGNS-Service Géologique National du Sénégal.
• Mr. Simon VANDEN BROEKE, Team Leader for Connectivity and Sustainable Investment from the Delegation of the European Union to Senegal.

 

Closing Ceremony:

The closing ceremony took place on Friday, July 12th, 2024, in Dakar, Senegal, and was attended by:

• Dr. Rokhaya SAMBA DIENE, Director General of SGNS-Service Géologique National du Sénégal.

• Mr. Moncef MEDDEB, Attaché for Scientific and University Cooperation at the French Embassy in Senegal.

• Mr. Meissa DIAKHATE, Director of the Minister’s Office for Energy, Petroleum, and Mines.

 

The highlight of the closing ceremony was the presentation of the trainees’ “Return-to-Work Projects.” These projects encompassed a diverse range of objectives, from 3D modeling of phosphate-rich geological layers to the reprocessing and quality control of exploration data provided by mining companies. These projects are scheduled to be implemented over the next six months, with a follow-up webinar planned for mid-January 2025 to review the results, successes, and challenges encountered.

 

The pictures from the training session are available here.

 

For more details, check out:

 

1. News report (Dakaractu), click here
2. News report (Top News), click here
3. News article (Lequotidien), click here
4. News report (Lequotidien), click here
5. News report (Lequotidien), click here

 

Video coverages:

 

Video Coverage (APS – Agence de Presse Sénégalaise):

 

 

Video Coverage (RTS-Radio Télévision Sénégalaise): Closing Ceremony

 

 

Video Coverage (Dakaractu TV): Opening Ceremony

 

The recent Field Geoscientific Mapping training session held in Entebbe and Kabale areas of Uganda from 27th February to 26th March 2024 has garnered significant attention from both local and international media outlets.

During the intensive month-long session, 25 dedicated trainees from 11 African countries immersed themselves in learning advanced techniques in geoscientific mapping. Their commitment and enthusiasm underscore the importance of fostering expertise in this critical field.

At the official closing session, the state minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Peter Lokeris, stated that having a geoscientific database proving the existence of mineral deposits in Africa will attract potential investors. He also lauded the PanAfGeo project for its instrumental role in promoting intracontinental cooperation among African nations and facilitating knowledge exchange between Africa and the EU.

Video coverage by the NTV Uganda: Geo-African surveyors advocate for an African investment in mineral exploration

The training session pictures are available here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBm4ia

View the online news reports here:

• Chimp Reports
• New Vision
• Uganda Radio network
• The Ankole Times

The third WP-B training session took place in Kitwe, Zambia from 11-21 March 2024. 21 participants from 12 African English-speaking countries (Egypt, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Botswana, Kenya, Eswatini, Libya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Liberia) attended 10 days of lectures, practical lessons, and field visits to Nkana and Mufulira Cu-Co mines.

The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) covered the training, emphasizing the importance of capacity-building in mining for Zambia as a country rich with critical raw materials. The video report includes comments regarding the significance of the exchange of expertise between Europe and Africa made by Dr. Maria Batista, the lead of the Work Package on the Mineral Resources Assessment of the PanAfGeo-2 Project, and Lawrence Mwanza, the Kitwe District Commissioner.

In a decade-long commitment to fostering geological expertise in Africa, the Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute (PGI-NRI) has played a pivotal role in the PanAfGeo project initiated by EuroGeoSurveys. Dr. Stanisław Wołkowicz, WP-D leader on the Polish side, highlighted the project’s evolution over the years, emphasizing its dedication to training courses for African geologists. The second phase of PanAfGeo, currently underway, focuses on diverse areas such as geodiversity conservation, geoheritage, and geothermal energy. PGI-NRI’s active involvement includes leading a working group on “New Frontiers in Geosciences: Geoheritage and Geothermal Energy,” conducting multiple training courses, and collaborating with European and African partners.

Dr. Wołkowicz shed light on the challenges faced by African geologists, citing issues like a shortage of trained personnel, high turnover rates, and inadequate laboratory infrastructure. Despite these challenges, the PanAfGeo project has successfully trained over a thousand African geologists from nearly 50 countries in its first phase, with the second phase aiming to further expand its impact.

Check out the full interview, here.

PanAfGeo2 has commenced its Geoscientific Information Management (WP-G) training session in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. The training aims to equip 18 geoscientists from 9 francophone African countries with skills in geological and information technology management.

The session, which runs from April 10 to 21, 2023, is conducted in French and tailored to the local context to ensure sustainability. The opening ceremony was chaired by H.E. P. OBA, State Minister, Minister of Mining Industries and Geology.

Video coverage produced by TeleCongo en direct TV

Video 11 April 2023: In French

Read more about the training session (Newspaper coverages):

1) LE CONGOLAIS.FR (after the opening of training session)

2) ADIAC – CONGO

3) ADIAC – CONGO (the visit of the State Minister during a training session)

4) VOX.CG

5) LA CLOCHE NEWS

The Geohazards & Environmental Management of Mines (WPE) training session in Moanda, Gabon kicked off with a successful start from 27 March to 1 April 2023. The training was conducted in French and provided valuable insights into a range of important topics related to geohazards and environmental management in mining.

The opening ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, including Bernard Moulonda, the Mayor of Moanda, Christian BOUPASSIA, the Director General of the School of Mine and Metallurgy in Moanda (E3MG), Hon. Elvis OSSINDJI, the Minister of the Ministry of Mines and Geology in Gabon, Hugues Christian Ekogha, the Director General of the Department of Raw Materials of the Ministry of Mines and Geology in Gabon, and Souleymane Diop, Co-leader of PanAfGeo-2 WP-E.

We invite you to listen to the audio recording of the WP-E training session as featured on a local radio station’s interview, and watch the video coverage produced by Gabonese TV below. The WPE training session provided a unique opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in geohazard and environmental management in mining.

The PanAfGeo Project, which is aimed at strengthening the capacity of African Geological Surveys, has achieved remarkable success in Phase 1 and is currently undertaking Phase 2 activities. Jean-Claude Guillaneau, the Project Coordinator, recently presented the project and its achievements to Forbes Africa, highlighting the importance of this initiative in unlocking the full potential of Africa’s mineral resources. In this article, we will delve deeper into the outcomes of the PanAfGeo Project and shed light on the ongoing efforts to bolster the geological knowledge and expertise of African nations.

Read the full interview online >HERE<

Download the full interview >HERE< (PDF In French).

The WP-B delivered its first training session in Portuguese from 20-30 November 2022 in Lubango, Angola. It brought together 27 participants from five African Portuguese-speaking countries, i.e. Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Cabo Verde and São Tomé & Principe, from PALOP (Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa).

The ten-day training was organized as classroom-type sessions lectures, field visits, equipment demonstrations and laboratory tests. A morning visit was made to an ornamental anorthosite quarry (Black Angola granite), the Metarochas quarry in the exploration nucleus of Tchiquatite (Huíla). This is the main area where this rock, known worldwide, is explored. The training also included practical cases of mineral resources exploration techniques with equipment demonstration, such as: portable XRF and the advantages of using it in an early phase of mineral exploration, and how to read the data produced.

Click here to view/download the training session report.

The training session pictures are available here.

View the online news reports here:

• Jornal de Angola

• Press reader.com