Category: South Africa

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. The event was organised in cooperation with the International Center of Excellence on Sustainable Resource Management Europe (ICE SRM EU). 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.

 

The presentation materials shared during the PanAfGeo+ National AMREC/PARC – UNFC Workshop are now available for download. Download the Workshop Presentations (ZIP, 23 MB)

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.

PanAfGeo-2 seized the spotlight at Mining Indaba 2025 this week, making a strong impact at the European Commission/Team Europe pod.

Throughout the event, PanAfGeo-2 maintained a strong presence at the EU Pavilion, engaging in discussions with key institutions such as the Council for Geoscience, the Geological Survey of Senegal, the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Cameroon, and the Geological Survey of Namibia.

Strengthening EU-Africa Geoscience Collaboration

On 5th February, two key meetings took place.

In the morning, the Presidents of EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) and the Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS) held a high-level introductory meeting, supported by their respective teams. Rokhaya Samba Diene, President of OAGS, warmly welcomed Tirza Van Daalen, the newly appointed President of EGS. Discussions centred on strengthening EU-Africa geoscience collaboration and reinforcing the commitment to working together through the PanAfGeo-2 programme.

PanAfGeo Achievements and the Introduction of PanAfGeo+

In the afternoon, a high-level meeting was convened to reflect on the achievements of PanAfGeo-2 as it concludes and to introduce PanAfGeo+, an ambitious new phase set to run from 2025 to 2029. This next chapter will further enhance EU-Africa partnerships, strengthen geological survey capacities across Africa, and foster economic cooperation in critical raw materials.

The event brought together key geoscience experts, policymakers, and industry leaders, including Rokhaya Samba Diene, President of the OAGS; Tirza Van Daalen, President of EGS; Cécile Tassin-Pelzer, Adviser at the Africa Directorate of the European Commission (DG INTPA); as well as high-level representatives from African and European geological institutions.

Speaking at the event, Rokhaya Samba Diene reaffirmed the strong collaboration between OAGS and EGS, highlighting how PanAfGeo has reinforced ties between African and European geological institutions, fostering a shared vision for sustainable geoscience development across the continent.
Tirza Van Daalen echoed this sentiment, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation and stating that the PanAfGeo programme has laid the foundation for a long-term EU-Africa partnership in geosciences. She emphasised that with PanAfGeo+, these collaborations will be further strengthened, ensuring that Africa’s geological potential plays a key role in global sustainability.

During the meeting, Jean-Claude Guillaneau and Nicolas Charles, Coordinators of the PanAfGeo Project (BRGM), presented key findings from Phases 1 and 2, demonstrating the initiative’s impact on advancing geological knowledge, building technical capacity, and fostering EU-Africa cooperation. Since its inception in 2016, PanAfGeo has trained nearly 1,750 geoscientists coming from all African countries, significantly contributing to the development of Africa’s geoscience sector. The coordinators also introduced PanAfGeo+, outlining its objectives to further develop African geological surveys and strengthen cooperation in the exploration of critical raw materials.

A high-profile panel discussion followed, focusing on the future of mineral exploration, environmental protection, and sustainable resource management. Moderated by Willem Meintjes, Executive Manager at the Council for Geoscience, South Africa, and Julie Hollis, Secretary General of EGS, the panel featured Jean-Claude Guillaneau, Coordinator of PanAfGeo (BRGM); Claudio Bacigalupi, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Zambia; and Raoul Wazenga, Director General of the National Geological Survey of Congo (DRC). The discussion provided key insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Africa’s geoscience sector and the role PanAfGeo+ will play in addressing them.

The meeting served as a platform for engaging discussions, expert insights, and networking opportunities, reinforcing the importance of sustained collaboration in shaping the future of Africa’s geoscience sector. The launch of PanAfGeo+ marks a significant milestone, ensuring continued support for geological advancements, capacity building, and sustainable resource management across the continent.