The trend towards Government involvement in mining

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Created: Wednesday, 01 February 2017 10:53

State owned mining companies have been established in various SADC member states, including South Africa and Namibia. The state is also involved in partnerships with private sector mining companies in Botswana and Namibia.

Recently increasing calls were made for nationalisation and greater government involvement in mining operations.

When this matter was discussed previously, members did not express any opinion on government involvement in mining except to note the potential for conflict of interest when government was simultaneously a player as well as the regulator.

One issue on which members had expressed strong views in the past, was the marketing of minerals. MIASA's view is that governments should not become involved in marketing, or controlling the marketing of minerals.