Awards for African initiatives
SYRAH Resources and Resolute Mining have been named as the winners of the inaugural Australia-Africa Minerals and Energy Group (AAMEG) Awards.
Presented as part of the Paydirt conference, the initiative recognises and promotes the leadership and innovation demonstrated by Australian companies operating in Africa in the areas of capacity building and workforce development.
AAMEG Vice-Chair and awards judge Ben Gargett said the awards set the benchmark for Australian mining companies delivering projects that have sustainable and tangible benefits to local African communities.
Syrah Resources Limited took out the award for ‘Best Innovation in Corporate Social Development’ for its Balama Professional Training Centre project, located in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.
The project has in the past four years mobilised and trained a workforce of close to 1000 employees in Mozambique, of which 55pc reside in the local host communities, 96pc are Mozambican nationals, and over 20pc female.
University of WA regional development co-director and awards judge Fiona Haslem-McKenzie said that Syrah Resources showed exceptional dedication to upskilling members of the local community and their commitment to retaining this workforce was providing long-term, local economic advantage.
These achievements aligned closely with the awards’ efforts to recognise success in building local resilience and capacity building.
Resolute Mining walked away winning ‘ Best Workforce and Industry Development Initiative’ for its Malian Talent Development Program, situated in south Mali.
This project utilises the latest underground remote operation technology and has recruited a significant number of senior school students to participate in a three-year apprenticeship program, which currently has eight apprentices.
Final year students are given the opportunity to undertake an internship program, and college students are accepted for vocational training, the top student receiving a yearly bursary scheme to study at an Australian university.
African Dream Foundation founder and award judge Fadzai Matambanadzo said the award was based on the Resolute’s leadership and extraordinary efforts to proactively hire, recruit and train a local and diverse workforce at its Syama underground gold mine - one of the most sophisticated and advanced gold mines in Africa and in the world.
Base Resources was recognised as a Highly Commended entrant in the ‘Best Workforce and Industry Development’ category for its efforts in developing Kenya’s mining workforce through its Kwale Operation in Kenya.
Proving highly effective, the innovative “Fencing System” has recruited a 70pc local workforce, employing more than 1100 employees from the surrounding Kwale County, and a further 28pc from wider Kenya.
To learn more about the awards and winners visit: https://aameg.org/aamegafrica-awards/