By Emmanuel Oluebube, Correspondent UK

Investing in African Mining (Mining Indaba), part of Hyve Group Plc has announced the exceptional line-up of keynote speakers for Mining Indaba Virtual, which will take place 2-3 February 2021.

The organisers have confirmed four heads of state will be delivering keynote addresses, including President of South Africa H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of Sierra Leone¸ H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Botswana H.E. Mokgweetsi Masisi and H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, President of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) discussing the opportunity for international investment and much more for their countries.

Joining the heads of state on the expanding list of speakers are CEOs from major mining companies, government leaders and senior representatives from across the global mining industry. Tackling topics from reigniting mining capital: ESG investing in a COVID-recovery world, harnessing technology and automation to grow economies to opportunities for battery metals in the global reboot, green metals, PGMs and global decarbonisation and more.

This year’s virtual event has been designed to reflect the priorities of helping to rebuild and shape the future of the industry. Spread over two half days, it will boast a highly exceptional line-up of industry speakers. “Mining Indaba has been built on 27 years of industry support, and this year, although virtual, we want to help to continue to support the industry during such a turbulent year. The programme truly reflects the industry’s needs and will support the industry for the year ahead,” said Head of Content, Mining Indaba and Africa Oil Week, Tom Quinn.

The line-up of speakers joining heads of state includes:

• Minister of Minerals Resources & Energy, South Africa, Hon. Gwede Mantashe
• Chief Executive, Anglo American, Mark Cutifani.
• CEO, Minerals Council South Africa, Roger Baxter
• CEO, Exxaro Resources, Mxolisi Mgojo
• CEO Energy & Minerals, Rio Tinto, Bold Bataar
• CEO, Sibanye-Stillwater, Neal Froneman
• Executive Vice President, Gold Fields, Alfred Baku
• Head of Sustainable Finance, Standard Bank, Nigel Beck
• Managing Director – Head of Natural Resources, Absa Bank, Shirley Webber
• CEO, RBPlat, Steven Phiri,
• CEO, Anglo American Platinum, Natascha Viljoen
• Partner, White & Case, Rebecca Campbell
• Managing Director, PAC Capital Limited, Humphrey Oriakhi
• Lead PGM Analyst, SBG Securities, Adrian Hammond

Geared towards building ‘Resilience and Regrowth: Adopting the New Mindset for African Mining’ to help rebuild and shape the future of the industry. This free to attend online conference is now CPD certified meaning attendance counts towards professional development, featuring high-level content including pioneering insights, multi-stakeholder strategic conversations, presidential addresses and more.

Registration for the Mining Indaba Virtual is underway and the event is free to attend. For more information about the programme, visit the website here (https://bit.ly/3qB01v5).