This document discusses how harnessing opportunities in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) of industrial minerals can help transform economies. It argues that past interventions have focused mainly on gold and gemstones, neglecting industrial minerals which have greater potential to link with other sectors. Industrial minerals like limestone, sand, and clay are widely found across Africa and can create jobs while supporting construction, manufacturing, and agriculture. The document calls for reframing these "low value" minerals as "neglected development minerals" and establishing supportive policies and institutions to develop them in a way that achieves broad-based sustainable growth.

1. Harnessing Opportunities to Transform the ASM
From Mining focus to Minerals for Development:
Akong Charles
Economic Affairs Officer
Linkages, Diversification and Investment

2. Present
• AMV and Minerals for Development
• Development Minerals
Examine
• Dimensions of Neglect
• Lessons for the ASM
Identify
• Transformative opportunities
Present
• Conclusions
Outline of Presentation

3. AMV Thinking Outside the ‘Mining Box’
‘’ Transparent, equitable and optimal
exploitation of mineral resources to underpin
broad-based sustainable growth and socio-
economic development’’
 Optimize knowledge and benefits of finite mineral
resources at all levels… for all minerals;
Incorporate both high value metals and lower value
industrial minerals at both commercial and small-
scale levels’’
 Harness the potential of small scale and artisanal
mining to improve livelihoods and integration into
the rural and national economy’’

4. But many past interventions in the ASM
remains ‘’mainly on mining gold and
gemstones and less on industrial minerals,
which have greater potential for integration
with other sectors of the local economy’’.

5. Nature and Diversity of industrial minerals
Minerals exploited for their physical and xcal
properties and not Metallic
 Fairly spread- in across Africa but range limited
except for construction minerals
 Typical commercial finds in the region-
limestones, dimension stones, phosphates,
marble, salt and kaolin, gypsum, sand and clay
 Uses as old as civilization and mostly artisanal
 High retained value, requires less skilled, capital
and technology compared to HUVM
 Create employment and expand technology
capability
Potential remains incongruous with exploitation
and policy attention

6. Pillars of Industrialization and Transformation
Construction Minerals Limestone, Dimension Stones, Marbles,
Sand and Clay , dolomite and granite
Manufacturing Clay, Limestone, feldspar and Sand
Agriculture Phosphates and Salts
Mining Kaolin, refractory bricks, Bentomites

7. Yet Industrial Minerals Remains ASM & Neglected
Market failure
Government
failure
Society
failure
Neglect

8. BUT AFTER THE BOOM: NOT EVERY
UNGLITTERED MINERAL ISN’T GOLDEN

9. AFRICA’S BUOYANT CEMENT SECTOR
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Consumption growth in cement year on year average in
percentage terms
Africa(SSA) MENA China World (exclu china)
Source: World Cement Report

10. STEP-UP DEMAND 4 AGGREGATES IN AFRICA

11. AGGREGATES BY APPLICATIONS

12. Consumption underpins transformation
Source: WB

13. BEYOND MAXIMIZING REVENUES
Gold
FiscalRent
Diversification/Structural transformation
Lead/Zinc
Iron ore
Construction/agro/industrial
Diamond
Bauxite
Source: Authors own conceptualization

14. More Than Low Value
Fiscal
Linkage
Consumption
linkage
Production
linkage
Lateral
Linkage
High Value but Low
Linkage Potential
High Average Low High
Low Value but Very
High Linkage Potential
Average High High High
Average Value and
Medium Linkage
Potential
High Average Average High
Source: authors

15. TRANSFORMATION’S LOW HANGING FRUITS
 Critical Feedstock –
Demand based
 Beneficiation
 Livelihood opportunities
Institutions Building
Social contract
 Inclusive
Environment, health and safety

16. Frame them as low value or neglected ?
 Despite potentials, barely recognised in minerals policies
 Legislative and legal framework weak , unadapted or absent
 Specific challenges needing specific and supportive institutional
framework
 Livelihood opportunity, needing a business approach for
sustainability, decent employment and inclusion
 Promising testing ground to get ASM right

17. Conclusion
 Low hanging fruits for achieving the AMV
Towards a policy oriented focus of the sector
AMDC has decided to frame this class of minerals as
 NEGLECTED DEVELOPMENT MINERALS (NDM)
 Specific challenges in the sector requires clear and adapted legal and
institutional framework
 Strengthen capacity building in EHS, business management and
vocational training
 Research, geological and marketing information

18. Thank You!