By Alec Hogg
The 2015 Mining Indaba is in full swing. Heavyweights from around the world are in Cape Town. Networking, swapping notes. The very good news is Adv. Ngoako Ramatlhodi, SA’s Minister of Mines, is among those assembled. He is circulating among the delegates, engaging, listening, sharing views. Doing exactly what his nation expects of him right now.
From early impressions, at this year’s Indaba the optimistic air of 2014 has been replaced by pragmatic realism. Those with capital have the whip hand. Junior miners with prospects anything less than exceptional are staring down a barrel. Everyone here agrees 2015 is likely to be a year of consolidation. One where mergers and acquisitions will start to boom. But also where the cash starved will be forced to sell at cents in the dollar.
It’s good Ramatlhodi is here. Competition for capital is not just between companies. It is equally competitive between mining countries. South Africa has been less than magnetic these past couple decades. Perhaps the Minister’s presence and quite obvious focus, will help turn that around?
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