KAWA MULTIMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
The problems facing mining in Africa
i. Inadequate capital to invest in the mining industry. Capital is needed to purchase machinery and good vehicles, pay workers, maintain good roads and railways.
ii. There is severe lack of skilled labour force required in the management of a modern mining industry.
iii. Most minerals occur in small quantities and in some cases they are of poor grade. At times they occur in very remote areas where transport is very poor.
iv. Climate of the area also affects mining due to heavy rains which affect transportation of the output.
v. Landscape itself is a problem. Some minerals are located just deep in the mountainous areas and far deep in the earth crust making mining very hard.
vi. The problem of political instability since African countries have gone through several bloody coups.
vii. Lack of proper research and mineral exploration.
viii. Limited market for most African minerals.
ix. Lack of essential and marketable minerals such as petroleum, coal, gold, iron ore, uranium in most countries.
x. Price fluctuations on the world market.
xi. Poor power supply to the mining centres.
xii. Lack of cheap labour in some African countries which are remote and sparsely populated.
xiii. The mines are risky due to poor conditions like poor ventilation.
xiv. Some governments do not take mining as a priority in the economy. Other sectors are considered first for example defense, commerce, agriculture, and industrial development.
ii. There is severe lack of skilled labour force required in the management of a modern mining industry.
iii. Most minerals occur in small quantities and in some cases they are of poor grade. At times they occur in very remote areas where transport is very poor.
iv. Climate of the area also affects mining due to heavy rains which affect transportation of the output.
v. Landscape itself is a problem. Some minerals are located just deep in the mountainous areas and far deep in the earth crust making mining very hard.
vi. The problem of political instability since African countries have gone through several bloody coups.
vii. Lack of proper research and mineral exploration.
viii. Limited market for most African minerals.
ix. Lack of essential and marketable minerals such as petroleum, coal, gold, iron ore, uranium in most countries.
x. Price fluctuations on the world market.
xi. Poor power supply to the mining centres.
xii. Lack of cheap labour in some African countries which are remote and sparsely populated.
xiii. The mines are risky due to poor conditions like poor ventilation.
xiv. Some governments do not take mining as a priority in the economy. Other sectors are considered first for example defense, commerce, agriculture, and industrial development.