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Resolute points to

two-way relations

esolute Mining Ltd managing director ways paid tax and royalties but have not
RJohn Welborn has reminded both gov- always delivered to investors.”
ernments and investors that government- Resolute’s strategy for changing this is
business relations on the continent are to adopt advanced mining methods to im-
very different to those in his homeland. prove productivity, efficiency and safety.
Speaking during the opening session At Syama, the company is rolling out the
of Africa Down Under, Welborn said world’s first fully automated underground
Resolute understood the need to work in gold mine. Welborn said the move had
partnership with host governments but in- finally unlocked Syama’s latent potential
sisted the relationship had to be mutually to the benefit of both company and stake-
beneficial. holders.
“Resolute has recognised the differ- “There has been a commitment by the
ence working in Africa to Australia,” Wel- board to preserve and create value at Sy-
born said during a session in which he ama through innovation and the introduc- John Welborn
shared the stage with both West Austral- tion of technology. Everything we are do-
ian Premier Mark McGowan and Malian ing is about mining better, more efficient, the discussion is set to intensify in com-
Minister of Mines and Petroleum Lelenta safer and better and crating more value ing decades. Welborn pointed out that by
Hawa Baba Ba. for those in our ecosystem,” he said. “Sy- 2035, young people in Africa will outnum-
“In Australia, the relationship with gov- ama is a Tier 1 global gold mine. It was ber young people in the rest of the world.
ernment is distanced and purely under a discovered by BHP Ltd and owned by By 2050, a quarter of people on Earth will
tax framework. In Africa it is very differ- Randgold [without fulfilling its potential]. be Africa.
ent; Mali owns 20% of Syama [Resolute’s We are very proud of our investment in He said such compelling numbers cre-
gold mine in the country] so we need to the mine; we brought it back on line in ated commercial opportunities but Aus-
behave differently. It is about balance and 2009 and it is now on the cusp of fulfilling tralian investors would have to change
where the benefits of the mine go and that potential.” their attitudes.
need to go. In partnership with Sandvik and By- – Dominic Piper
“Responsibility is two-way; it needs rnecut Resolute
transparency and faith from governments has built an un-
but companies need to demonstrate that derground mine
as well. It is a challenge for all companies; where ore is never
are we there to bring genuine first world handled manu-
standards or exploit various advantages ally between the
we can achieve?” face and the plant.
Resolute has operated in Africa for Welborn said the
more than 23 years across four jurisdic- innovation would
tions in West and East Africa. Senegal is bring productiv- Fast tracking
its latest point of entry after the company ity and efficiency
paid $US308 million for Toro Gold and gains but also development of the

its Mako gold operation in the country. pave the way for Lindi Jumbo Project
Welborn said the company was looking dramatic change to take advantage of
to the continent to push group production to Syama employ- forecast market
towards 750,000 ozpa (currently 400,000 ees.
ozpa) but needed support to achieve its “Technology is conditions for quality
ambitions. enabling changes Flake Graphite deposits.
“We have gone to Senegal because in the workforce,”
the Government had demonstrated its he said. “We have Walkabout is also
mining framework,” he said. “We have in- a talent develop-
vested in Syama because we have long- ment programme exploring for Lithium

term faith in the Malian mining regime. through which we in Namibia, Gold and
The ability to invest further is going to be are creating path- Base Metals in

predicated on transparency we can bring ways for Malians Northern Ireland and
and that our partners can bring.” to take charge of
West Africa’s gold sector has thrived the mine.” Scotland.
over the last 15 years but Welborn reiter- Employment op-
ated the need for investors to benefit as portunities are al-
well as host governments and communi- ways contentious
ties. issues in mining
“We must do better at creating value development and
because returns to shareholders haven’t demographic pro- CAPITALISING ON RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES
been consistent,” he said. “We have al- jections suggest

aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT OCTOBeR 2019 Page 39