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AFRIcA FocUs

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Short-term hort-term hort-term

performance builds erformance builds erformance builds
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long-term successong-term successong-term success
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he COVID-19 pandemic may have forced Africa Down Under good momentum, develop good people,
T to be moved back to November 4-6 but after a period of systems and discipline and really deliver
for customers.”
uncertainty, the African mining sector appears to be on the For Norwell, relationships are key to
rebound. Paydirt speaks with two of Australia’s leading mining successful operational outcomes in Africa.
“We have always had good relationships
and engineering service companies about the current state-of- with our clients and our host communities.
play on the continent and their outlook for future developments Our mantra in this regard is being local, re-
specting local and supporting local.”
AMS, Perenti’s surface mining division
ustralian service companies in Africa “It is very hard for groups who don’t know in Africa, has struggled to match AUMS’s
Aare confident they can navigate the Africa to operate there,” Perenti managing performance in recent years with FY2019
worst of the COVID pandemic thanks to director Mark Norwell told Paydirt. seeing a drop in earnings from $65 million
the strength of their relationships with the Perenti is firmly entrenched in Africa, to $56 million.
continent’s miners, developers and explor- its African Mining Services (AMS) division AMS workers were also subject to a ter-
ers. having been established there more than rorist attack when travelling to the Boung-
The likes of Capital Ltd, Perenti Global 25 years ago and its African Underground ou mine in Burkina Faso in November.
Ltd, Lycopodium Ltd and Geodrill Ltd have Mining Services (AUMS) group entering Semafo suspended operations following
established themselves as leading service the continent in 2007. the incident with new owner Endeavour
providers in Africa over the last three dec- “The last five years have been very Mining Corp not targeting a restart until
ades and that vast experience is counting good for AUMS,” Norwell said. “Since the end of 2020.
as a distinct advantage in the current cli- we took over Barminco [Perenti’s original AMS also lost contract services at Per-
mate. AUMS JV partner] we have been able to seus Mining Ltd’s Edikan gold mine in

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