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and country. and indirect employment will be in the while graphite developer EcoGraf has
The situation in DRC, Africa’s most al- hundreds of thousands,” he told report- plans to ship its Tanzanian product to
luring jewellery box, also appears to be ers. Western Australia for purification.
stabilising. President Felix Tshisekedi If Tanzania and DRC politics offer new As with other commodities on the con-
has purged his Government of predeces- hope, the story in other jurisdictions is of tinent, China remains the most willing
sor Joseph Kabila’s supporters, opening progress despite turmoil. Much of West partner both Australian juniors and Af-
the country to new as well as stalled in- Africa has been blighted by security rican governments seeking to advance
vestment opportunities. problems in the last two years as Islam- battery minerals plays.
In June, Australian iron ore producer ist insurgents launch attacks across the In June, Firefinch struck a deal with
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd announced region. China’s largest lithium producer, Gan-
it would take on the task of building the Mali has seen two presidents ousted feng (see page 18) to develop its Gou-
long-promised Grand Inga hydroelec- by the military in the last nine months but lamina lithium project in Mali and the
tric power project. Two existing dams ASX-listed gold miners and explorers likes of AVZ and Walkabout have found
produce 1,800MW of power but the pro- continue to perform strongly with Fire- offtake parties from China.
posed expansion would see a further finch Ltd (see page 18) the latest Aus- With dynamics constantly shifting the
six dams provide more than 40,000MW, tralian company to join the ranks of gold issues of Chinese investment, down-
making Grand Inga the world’s largest producers. stream processing and political stability
hydropower project. Across the border, Burkina Faso has on the continent will be key items on the
Fortescue opened dialogue with the been similarly wracked by security is- Africa Down Under agenda in Septem-
DRC Government in 2020, two years af- sues but that hasn’t stopped West Afri- ber.
ter a joint Chinese/Spanish consortium can Resources Ltd staying on track to Alongside corporate presentations
signed a deal to develop the Inga 3 dam. meet its 250-280,000oz gold production from Australian-based companies, Pay-
“Alexy Kayembe De Bampende, Presi- target for 2021. dirt expects to welcome increased par-

dent Felix Tshisekedi’s top infrastructure Other than gold, battery and critical ticipation from the continent itself with
advisor, said the project would now be minerals have emerged as the most ministers from leading resources juris-
led by Fortescue. fruitful commodities for Australian com- dictions to deliver virtual addresses. In
“Fortescue will be the sole operator for panies. In Tanzania, the graphite juniors addition, the African diplomatic heads
the entire Grand Inga (3 to 8). Chinese are joined by Peak Resources Ltd which of mission based in Canberra will share
& co are welcome to join Fortescue,” he is hoping to kick-start activity on its their governments’ message on the
told Reuters in a text message. Ngualla rare earths project while lithium ground in Perth.
“There has been discussion between is the focus of Prospect Resources Ltd
Chinese [Three Gorges] and AEE and and AVZ Minerals Ltd in Zimbabwe and For more information on Africa Down
[Fortescue] since last year to work to- DRC respectively. Under, including sponsorship
gether.” Battery minerals offer the added incen- opportunities, contact Paydirt Media
In a MoU signed between Fortescue tive of downstream processing opportu- on +61 8 9321 0355 or visit
and Congo in September 2020, seen by nities, a long-term ambition of many Af- africadownunderconference.com
Reuters, Fortescue “acknowledges the rican governments. Just how far miners
existing potential rights held on Inga 3 by are willing to take their product through
third parties”. the value chain is open to debate and the
“In the event that, for any reason, such complex supply chains in lithium, cobalt,
rights to develop Inga 3 become avail- rare earths and graphite also need to be
able, the government of the DRC un- considered.
dertakes to secure for Fortescue Future As in Australia, international investors
Industries an exclusive first option to de- are eager to put their foot on Africa’s bat-
velop Inga 3,” the MoU said. tery minerals sources with governments
Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest in the US, UK, Europe, Japan and Ko-
met Tshisekedi in June to discuss the rea increasingly trying to break China’s
project. Forrest said Fortescue would stranglehold on global production.
use the energy from Inga to produce hy- Peak has struck agreement with the
drogen to export around the world. UK Government to build a rare earths
“The capital cost of this will be many, refinery on Teesside in the north-east of
many tens of billions of dollars and direct England to process Ngualla concentrate

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