Delivering effective net zero and just energy transition strategies | Mining Indaba Insights 2025 Artwork

Suits and Boots | The Critical Minerals Podcast

Insights and discussions on hot topics from the world of responsible sourcing from TDi Sustainability's expert analysts and specialist guests.

With suits in the boardroom and boots on the ground, TDi provides a 360-degree perspective on sustainability and long-term business resilience for businesses across the length and breadth of global mineral and metal value chains.

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Suits and Boots | The Critical Minerals Podcast

Delivering effective net zero and just energy transition strategies | Mining Indaba Insights 2025

January 23, 2025 • Season 1 • Episode 8

0:00 | 44:32

In this episode, TDi's CEO Assheton Stewart Carter talks to two representatives from different parts of the mining industry, who will all be speaking at the 2025 Mining Indaba in Cape Town, on delivering effective net zero and just energy transition strategies.

The panelists are:
Nkandu Beltz | Mining Director, Beltz Mining
John Sloan | Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

The speakers discuss the dual requirements of a just economic transition in Africa and the climate imperative. How can mineral extraction catalyse inclusive economic growth on the continent?

What sort of activity are we seeing to develop critical mineral value chains and press for local sustainable economic development across the continent?

Are we aligned on what is a critical mineral?

What about steel?

Nkandu - what does the policy landscape look like, and how is that assisting entrepreneurs such as you?

What's your experience in Zambia on how policymakers can facilitate the path to identifying these reserves in the continent?

What contribution can these minerals play in advancing Africa's ambitions for cleaner and cheaper energy? Should we be looking at coal reserves, and do we have a bit of a contradiction here?

Nkandu - how is the energy generated for your projects?

In terms of the offtake - should we be looking for minerals developed in Africa to be going into the African market?

What needs to be done to ensure that local communities are at the centre of discussions around benefit sharing, local value addition and economic diversification? Do we need to look at more indirect linkages?

Should we be encouraging protectionism? Is beneficiation/value addition a plausible strategy?

Can there be ‘integrated regional integration'? Development corridors?

What is the responsibility of the private sector in growing upstream linkages?

What are the obligations of companies and policy makers to engage with mining communities and this youthful population?

From an economist's point of view, should policy be looking at upskilling within the industry, or at different industries in different parts of the economy?

John - what opportunities have you been looking at in terms of other options for investment?

Have you explored partnerships with donors, funders or financiers, when looking at non-core activities around your projects?

What are some of the positive aspects of rapidly advancing technology for the mining sector, and to reduce carbon emissions?

How do you see technology playing a part in the mineral value chain?

Are external stakeholders setting environmental standards that disregard the African development imperative? How can these requirements be balanced?

Final thoughts – who in Africa do you think will get the best deal from the energy transition and why?