BHP and JSE: Boosting African Mining Exploration

Mining company BHP and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) are joining forces to encourage African mining exploration.

The two companies will co-host the first workshop dedicated to supporting the use of intelligence and collaboration in operations across sub-Saharan Africa.

This education process will provide expertise from BHP while also strengthening relationships and supporting ongoing exploration.

Exploration workshops

BHP is an Australian multinational mining and metals company, aiming to manage a resilient long-term portfolio in order to grow value through its operating and development. Its expertise in exploration, development, logistics and mining is used to help build a clearer operations. It is now applying this expertise to help boost other mining corporations in their move towards mining and minerals exploration across sub-Saharan Africa.

In collaboration with Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), Africa's largest stock exchange, it will host the first in a series of workshops. These workshops will promote and support greater intelligence across the sector, with the push for more collaboration between key mining jurisdictions. 

BHP will also hold sessions throughout Namibia, Angola and Zambia. They will be directed towards junior mining and exploration companies, helping uplift them and educate them on how to strengthen operations. Academic institutions with a focus on geoscience, mining engineering and innovation programmes are also being encouraged to go in order to spark new conversations and empower individuals.

BHP will offer its view in global mineral systems, exploration methodology and geoscience data schema, offering keen insights into how junior companies can grow their scope and efficiency. The workshops will also help strengthen relationships in order to encourage future exploration in the region. 

BHP’s Head of Global Generative Exploration, Dr Cam McCuaig, says: “The objective of the workshops is to provide insights into BHP’s global exploration approach and identify mutual opportunities for collaboration.

“We also want to create greater awareness of BHP Xplor, and support innovative projects to bolster exploration in the region”.

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Meeting critical minerals demand

The BHP Xpolor programme will be introduced through these sessions, helping junior mining and exploration companies gain access to the accelerator programme. The nine-month long programme provides US$500,000 in equity-free funding, alongside hands-on technical, commercial, and operational support. It was designed by BHP to help with the fast-tracking of concepts into viable projects.

As the demand for critical minerals rises amid the ongoing energy transition, it is vital for projects to get off the ground quickly. Through programmes like Xpolor and workshops such as these ones, BHP is offering support for smaller businesses as they gain their footing. Cam and other senior members of the exploration team at BHP will lead the workshops, offering keen insights into how businesses can grow their operations.

"Capital formation in mining starts long before market entry, adds Patrycja Kula-Verster, the JSE’s primary markets: equity origination manager.

“By co-hosting this workshop with BHP, the JSE is supporting the capabilities and collaboration needed to build a stronger pipeline of quality mining investment across the region."

A collaborative effort

There has been a significant push in the development of critical materials, such as copper, zinc, lithium and aluminium in recent years. The energy transition has required these materials for both structural assets and energy itself. To do so, growing mining companies have been collaborating and expanding their operations.

Orion Minerals Limited has been taking part in the BHP Xplor programme. It is a JSE-listed South African exploration and development company which is focusing on the advancements of its copper and zinc assets. The company has seen significant benefit throughout the programme, demonstrating how helpful BHP's insights can be.

Orion’s executive: exploration, John Paul Hunt explains: "Xplor, for us, has been a validation of our strategic positioning in and vision for the Northern Cape in South Africa, and has been an excellent conversation starter with our current and future partners.

“It’s already helping us to accelerate our thinking about our future resources”.

BHP has also signed a strategic partnership deal with South African Council for Geoscience, in a collaborative effort to drive geoscientific data and accelerate mineral exploration by using advanced digital tools. Through all of the collaborative work BHP is doing, it is establishing how joint research, data sharing and exploration initiatives can unlock new value and help in the move towards an energy transition.