Australian miners South32, Orion Minerals, Perenti and DRA Global are among the winners of the 2024 Africa Awards, presented by WA-based Australia-Africa Minerals and Energy Group (AAMEG).
Now in its 6th year, the AAMEG Africa Awards – part of the annual ‘Africa Down Under’ Conference – spotlights mining companies and not-for-profits that are enhancing the social and economic well-being of the communities they serve.
“The Africa Awards are an amazing opportunity for companies to show that they are actually making a difference in Africa,” Tamryn Lee Goddard, one of the Africa Award judges and manager, advisory sustainability at BDO, said in a news release.
“I want to see Australian companies building a brand around their operations in Africa and showing why they should be preferred operators on the continent.”
South 32, through its Mozal Aluminium Operations, partnered with the local government and community to transform the Malhampsene School into a vibrant educational hub. Now, 21 modern classrooms replace dirt-floor lessons under trees, providing over 4,000 children with proper desks, safe sanitary facilities, a canteen and other infrastructure — all essential elements of a supportive learning environment.
Orion Minerals established a Community Participation Framework to meet targets for local community employment, subcontracting opportunities and procurement. This program has supported the growth of Quebar Electrical and Civil Construction Pty Ltd, a 100% local Black-owned electrical and civil construction business. Quebar has increased local employment and positioned itself competitively within the mining sector, demonstrating a commitment to community uplift and gender equality. At Orion’s Prieska Copper Zinc Mine, Quebar currently employs 46 people, of which 43 are from the local community, including 9 female employees.
Recognizing the critical shortage of engineering professionals in Africa, DRA Global launched a range of programs to develop the next generation of industry leaders. Their initiatives included a 24-month graduate program providing hands-on experience on major mining projects and strong mentorship toward Engineering Council of South Africa accreditation. The company has also partnered with the African Academy and South African universities to provide bursaries and career support, while also offering job shadow programs for high school students.
These efforts have led to tangible outcomes, including the provision of 40 bursaries to students in 2023, 79 new graduates enrolled across the Group, 23 internal promotions, and a 80% retention rate of program alumni in permanent positions.
Perenti’s Somelo Poultry Project, initiated by Barminco in Botswana, focuses on sustainable economic development by addressing unemployment and enhancing entrepreneurial skills in the village. In collaboration with the local community, Barminco established a poultry farming program that supplies eggs to the Khoemacau mine camp, generating vital funds for the village. Overcoming infrastructure challenges like the lack of electricity and water supply, the project installed solar power facilities to provide sustainable energy and clean water, significantly improving community health and safety.
