2013-03-13 11:37:17 - The 6th West & Central Africa Mining Summit & Expo 2013, the region’s premier African mining event, will be held on September 17-18 at the Accra International Conference Centre in Accra, Ghana. Rebranded as WaCA Mining, the 2013 event will bring together stakeholders such as mining companies, both large and small, equipment & technology suppliers, financiers, advisers, investors, mining industry associations and governments.

Reflecting the continued strong interest in the region’s vast mining opportunities, WaCA Mining 2013 puts the spotlight on the rush of new investments and projects designed to harvest the phenomenal mineral wealth of a region known to contain some of the world's largest untapped high-grade iron ore and gold deposits.

Africa is endowed with almost all the minerals in the world today, accounting for about 59% of the world's platinum; 62% of its aluminum silicate; more than 50% of all vanadiumites and vermiculites; more than 50% of diamonds, palladia and chromites and more than 20% of gold, uranium, cobalt and manganese – mostly found in the western and central regions. There are 107 active mines in West Africa compared to 69

in Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa, 49 in Southern Africa, and 39 in Western Sub-Saharan Africa.

The 2013 Summit will provide updates, mining opportunities and challenges of operating in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Mali, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, Gabon, Guinea, and other countries in the region.

The mining industry has seen major transformation over the past year. Faced with higher operating costs, especially labor and energy costs, a rising social and sustainability agenda and capital optimization, there is a critical need for the industry to evaluate its way of operating. The Summit will be discussing the new reality of operating in the current market environment.

The 2013 Exhibition will be extended to provide space for more companies to showcase their project highlights, products innovation and service competencies. Exhibitors include drilling companies E-Global Drilling Corporation and Major Drilling Group, drilling equipment provider PRD Rigs, global testing service provider ALS Minerals, geospatial experts AAM, processing technology specialists Outotec, and mining supply chain managers Citland International, oil analysis service WearCheck, among many others.

6th WaCA Mining 2013 is endorsed by the Ghana Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ghana Minerals Commission, and the Ghana Chamber of Mines.

The CEO of the conference organizing company, Magenta Global Pte Ltd, Singapore, Ms Maggie Tan, said: “WaCA Mining 2013 puts the spotlight on the tremendous potential of West & Central Africa mining economies. Given the negative perceptions of South Africa mining industry, especially in the last year, the mining industry is shifting its focus up north. Investments and increased activities are seen in the mining economies of West & Central Africa. New partnerships and project collaboration will be the buzz at the 6th WaCA Mining”. Ms Tan encouraged companies, organizations, businesses and governments to be part of this key event.

6th WaCA Mining 2013 will be hosted at the Accra International Conference Centre.