WhyAfrica’s Post

Barafu camp on Kilimanjaro, almost 4700 metres above sea level, is a good place to ponder. Barafu is the highest camp site on Mount Kilimanjaro and the last resting place for climbers attempting to summit Uhuru peak, the highest point in Africa.  Hikers that get cut down by the dreaded altitude sickness must remain in Barafu to stabilise at this height, or if their condition deteriorates overnight, are rushed down to lower altitudes on a rickety stretcher carried by six porters as fast as humanly possible. The rest gets up at midnight and if all goes according to plan, reaches the summit at about 9 o’clock in the morning before heading down immediately to minimise the adverse effect of such high altitudes on the body and brain (Uhuru peak is 5895m above sea level). The benefit of sleeping in at Barafu camp is that you can wake up only at sunrise and get the second-best view of the African continent. The prime spot is obviously Uhuru peak at nine.       Barafu is way above the clouds, and if I ever needed a few hours to reflect it was then, while lying in my tent staring at the Alphine desert around me and at the vast African plains below. Travelling overland across Africa remains one of the greatest adventures one can embark upon, as is climbing Kilimanjaro or, in fact, doing business in Africa. It all seems easy from a distance but believe me, it’s difficult. Always expect the unexpected. Never become complacent, tap yourself on the back for a job well done, or sit back and think you’ve done enough. Our work in Africa will never be done. We have no choice but to keep on walking, up or down, one step at a time. Pole Pole!          The next day is always as uncomfortable as today, and the day before. Carefully weigh up your risks and have a back-up plan in case something goes wrong. If your plans work out the rewards are unbelievable though. If you stumble in the homestretch, well – Akuna Matata… There’s always a next time. Asante Sana Kilimanjaro and Tanzania! Image: A room with a view at Barafu camp with Uhuru so close you can almost touch it. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica.   By Leon Louw, founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions #whyafrica #whyafricaroadtrips #endorphinexpedtions #africa #tanzania #kilimanjaro https://lnkd.in/dkhCDaqr

  According to Graham Soden, Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine’s (SMM) CEO and Mine Manager, the mine will shortly start with a recruitment drive to employ staff, mostly from feeder villages in the area as part of their strategy to create local employment and generate local economic development. Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine (SMM), located near Vanrhynsdorp in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The company announced this week that it is moving out of care-and maintenance to gear up for production following approval by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR).   Steenkampskraal is a high-grade-rare-earths mine that was operated by Ango American Corporation from 1952 to 1963. The approval allows the mine to proceed with the re-equipping of the existing head gear infrastructure and decline shaft. “The reclamation process will involve the removal of underground stockpiled blasted and ballast material brought to the surface for placement onto the existing feed to plant stockpile,” says Soden. Upgrading of the infrastructure will involve building new ablution blocks and offices, as well as surface water runoff controls and retention dams. In addition, security facilities will be upgraded to comply with the NNR’s regulatory requirements. The Steenkampskraal mine is considered to have among the highest concentration of thorium globally. The abundant resources of natural thorium at the mine are sufficient to meet the global demand for medical isotopes from its decay for the foreseeable future. The plan is to leverage Thor Medical’s expertise to efficiently produce valuable alpha-emitters for use in next generation cancer treatment from feedstock from Steenkampskraal’s mineral resources. To read the full article click on the link below or visit the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop-shop for on-the-ground information and business intelligence about Africa.   WhyAfrica specialises in the conservation, sustainable use and responsible extraction of Africa’s natural resources.   We focus on mineral exploration, critical minerals, biodiversity conservation, environmental management, natural resource management and the wildlife economy.   We also look at the impact extreme weather events, climate change, technology, the African Continental Free Trade Area, African politics, geopolitics and ESG considerations have on your business and investments in Africa.         WhyAfrica supports the empowerment of African communities, especially women and the youth, through sustainable development projects.   Image: Existing headgear at Steenkampskraal mine in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Image credit: Steenkampskraal   #whyafrica #whyafricaroadtrips #africa #mining #exploration #quarrying #equipment #agriculture #farming #forestry #ESG #infrastructure #watermanagement #energy #tourism #sustainability #carbonemissions #naturalresources Leon Louw   https://lnkd.in/dcjR_bqN

Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom is advancing uranium mining across the continent. While Rosatom is accelerating its African nuclear strategy, the company wants to start mining uranium in Namibia by 2029. Rosatom plans to complete the prospecting and exploration phase of the Wings Project by 2026. At a total investment of USD500-million, the project will produce 5000 metric tons of uranium per year. According to the Nuclear Business Platform there has been a surge in nuclear energy adoption in Africa, with projects targeting 15GW of operational capacity by 2035. Currently ten African countries are looking to embrace nuclear energy, the majority of which are leaning on global partnerships such as those fostered with Rosatom to accelerate project development. Over the last two years Rosatom has signed agreements with the Republic of Congo, Guinea-Conakry and Burkina Faso. Meanwhile in South Africa, the continent’s only nuclear power producer, Rosatom signed an agreement with the state-owned power utility Eskom for a nuclear action plan for the period 2024-2026. The plan comprises joint education initiatives, joint degree programs and workforce training. South Africa plans to continue utilising nuclear power to fulfil both its domestic and industrial needs. Recently, the Koeberg station – accounting for 5% of South Africa’s power supply – has been approved to run for an additional 20 years. The Rosatom-Eskom plans aim to support this by equipping the workforce with the requisite skills and capacities. Rosatom is one of the main sponsors at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) that will be held in Cape Town from 4 to 8 November 2024 which reflects Rosatom’s growing intention to support projects in Africa. To read the full article click on the link below or visit the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop-shop for on-the-ground information and business intelligence about Africa.   Image: Koeberg from a distance. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica Leon Louw #whyafrica #africa #mining #uranium #namibia #southafrica #whyafricaroadtrips https://lnkd.in/dvQFvAXs  

During the 2024 WhyAfrica Road Trip through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya we took more than 1800 photographs, shot about three hours’ worth of video material, recorded almost 20 hours of conversations and filled two notebooks with important information and contact details.        It took us eight months to plan our route, work out logistics, find camping sites and accommodation, speak to CEO’s, Business Chambers, government officials, general managers, investor relations departments and communication and public relations consultants to organise and schedule site visits. In preparation for our third WhyAfrica Road Trip through Africa, we read hundreds of newspaper articles, more than 20 academic books, and studied numerous research papers about the politics, economics, history, people, the natural environment and natural resources of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya. We read extensively about companies and their leaders, projects, investments and developments in these countries and noted them all for future reference. The aim of our WhyAfrica Road Trips is to gather on the ground information and business intelligence about the countries we visit and to gain a better understanding of both the challenges and the potential solutions that will affect companies doing business in Africa.          We use all the data, information, images and videos to produce articles, books, magazines, newsletters and research reports about our findings. Through talking to a range of people from all walks of life we are able to identify the main issues and themes in the countries we travel through.       During WhyAfrica’s 2024 WhyAfrica Road Trip we drove almost 9000km overland through six African countries, visited 30 project sites and interviewed more than 40 people. WhyAfrica specialises in the conservation, sustainable use and responsible extraction of Africa’s natural resources. While we focus on mineral exploration, critical minerals, biodiversity conservation, environmental management, natural resource management and the wildlife economy we also look at the impact extreme weather events, climate change, technology, the African Continental Free Trade Area, African politics, geopolitics and ESG considerations have on your business and investments in Africa. WhyAfrica covers the following: mining, exploration, quarrying, agriculture, infrastructure, energy, water management, ESG, politics, tourism, travel, conservation, environmental management and natural resource management and we support the empowerment of African communities, especially women and the youth, through sustainable development projects. Leon Louw #whyafrica #whyafricaroadtrips #africa #mining #exploration #quarrying #agriculture #ESG #infrastructure #watermanagement #energy #tourism #sustainability #naturalresources #naturalresourcemangement #environmentalmanagement #biodiversity #conservation                

When WhyAfrica visited Bulyanhulu during the 2024 WhyAfrica Road Trip through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya, we took a drive down the decline to see what the second deepest gold mine in Tanzania looks like. What a ride is all we can say. Fantastic mine with fantastic surface and underground infrastructure. What's more the mine continues to invest in exploration and significant expansions are in the pipeline. Leon Louw #whyafricaroadtrips #whyafrica