Counting the kwacha

Electricity and labour are the most important elements in the cost structure of the average Zambian copper mine, and together account for up to...

Mining requires deep pockets

Outside of the aerospace and defense industries, mining is arguably the most capital-intensive business in the world. You have to move a lot of earth...

Getting it right this time

In countries ranging from Zambia and Ghana to South Africa and Tanzania, poorly thought-out mining policies that lack certainty and consistency are hampering the...

Marriage can come later

Teenage girls in mining districts are being encouraged to resist early marriage, and instead focus on getting an education. "An education means they’ve got a...

An ear to the ground

The most interesting thing about the mining industry’s social investment in communities is not so much the money they spend, as the original and...

Mining not just about taxes and royalties

The greatest contribution of mining to society is in the local economy – in terms of broad job creation, new business opportunities and increased...