Tracking exploration projects across Africa

Tracking exploration projects across Africa

WhyAfrica continues tracking exploration and new mining projects across Africa.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine

A lot has been said by politicians about Africa’s minerals and how the continent can leverage its natural resources in a new geopolitical landscape.

Although it is true that Africa hosts large deposits, most of these remain locked-up below surface.

Therefore, greenfields exploration and drilling is critical to ensure that mines are found and developed. Unfortunately, exploration projects in Africa are dwindling, and that’s a worry.

Mines are not built in one day

Mines are not built in one day, and from proving up a resource to production can take anything from five years to 10 years. Thus, we need more exploration!

I’ve been tracking greenfields exploration projects across Africa for almost 16 years, and honestly, the projects that become producing mines are few and far between.

There are some great success stories and I’ve seen projects like Alphamin’s Bisie in the DRC, B2Gold’s Otjikoto and Osino’ Twin Hills (both in Namibia) advancing through the development stages.

I’ve visited these projects on several occasions and interviewed the teams that drive them. My conclusion is that a junior miner’s greatest attribute is patience.

Putting money into the ground without seeing a return for 10 years and then convincing investors you have stumbled upon a world-class deposit is not for the faint hearted and I’m glad I don’t have to do that.

WhyAfrica tracks greenfields exploration

My job is easy, I track greenfields exploration projects and very early-stage mining operations, identify the good ones and try to visit what I would consider those with the best potential.

Most of them, I must admit, do not ever make it into production for various reasons that is worthy of another post for another day.

Cross fingers for five years

But then, every few years, I stumble upon some obscure project in remote Africa that stirs something in me. Maybe there’s something called a gut feel. But mostly I like the geologists and management team on site. I then close my eyes and cross fingers for the next five years.

Although I don’t like doing it (as my gut feel is obviously not always right) I have stuck my neck out this year and identified my top exploration projects in Africa for 2025 and published it in the latest WhyAfrica Hawks Eye Report which is available to purchase (not for a lot of money) in WhyAfrica’s online shop.

Remember, if you are a WhyAfrica member, your free digital copy is already in your inbox. Enjoy the read!

To become a WhyAfrica member, please visit the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop shop for on the ground information and business intelligence about Africa.

Happy exploring!

Tracking exploration projects across Africa