Day 2 of the International Mining Congress in Marrakech carried forward the clarity and momentum established on the opening day, shifting the conversation toward the technical and social foundations that will determine how Africa translates its mineral vision into practice. If the first day anchored the political intent behind the African ESG Framework and the OTC Corridor (Origination, Transit, Certification), the second day explored what responsible transformation requires inside plants, territories and supply chains. The tone remained consistent throughout. Africa is not only redefining what it wants, but how it intends to achieve it.
The morning began with a detailed examination of mineral processing, delivered virtually by Dr. Andrea, whose work focuses on the role of particles in determining metallurgical performance. He explained that as deposits become more complex and as the industry demands higher recoveries with fewer losses, the traditional practice of looking at minerals in isolation is no longer enough. Elements sit within minerals, but minerals exist within particles, and these particles rarely reach full liberation. Their size, shape, associations and degree of surface exposure determine whether they will be recovered, rejected or lost. In regions such as the Central African Copperbelt, where copper-bearing minerals like chalcocite and bornite coexist with variable gangue phases, particle-based modelling offers a far more accurate picture of flotation behavior.
Through machine learning models and automated mineralogy, it becomes possible to assign recovery probabilities to individual particles. Dr. Andrea showed examples in which particles containing the same mineral liberated at similar proportions behaved differently depending on their associations. In practice, this allows operators to forecast performance before conducting laboratory tests, anticipate penalty elements, and optimise plant operations in real time. The presentation also highlighted how this approach can be applied to historic tailings facilities. By mapping particle populations across a tailings dam, operators can identify zones with meaningful reprocessing potential and separate them from areas where recovery would be technically or economically limited. For Africa, where tailings reprocessing represents both a sustainability obligation and an opportunity for new value, this kind of predictive science is crucial.
While the technical discussions focused on plant performance, a parallel conversation looked outward at the territories where mining takes place, specifically the governance of water in high-stress regions. Drawing on work across Mexico and Latin America, Jana described the importance of shifting water management from a mine-centric approach to one centred on shared territorial needs. In many places, communities perceive mining companies as direct competitors for scarce water resources. Past projects sometimes reinforced this perception by designing water systems that served the mine without aligning with local development plans.
Jana outlined an alternative model built on social innovation and shared value. Water projects must serve communities, municipalities and households alongside mining operations. Co-design and co-governance are essential, ensuring that communities, governments, companies and academic institutions participate not only in consultation but in decision-making. Transparency and open-data systems build trust by allowing stakeholders to understand water availability, risks and impacts. She also highlighted the Territorial Transformation Observatory, an initiative that monitors social, environmental and economic changes around large projects so that decisions can be grounded in real evidence. For African regions facing similar stress conditions, these lessons offer practical direction on how water management can strengthen, rather than strain, relationships between mines and communities.
Another session brought a global perspective through contributions from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD representative outlined the evolution of due diligence standards for responsible mineral supply chains. Initially focused on tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold, the framework has since expanded to all minerals and is now embedded in legislation across Europe, the United States and Japan. These guidelines do not impose one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, they define principles for how companies should engage with communities, manage risk, maintain transparency and uphold human rights.
The OECD shared examples from northern Chile, where copper-rich regions generate high GDP per capita but still face inequality and uneven development. Through coordinated planning among government, academia and industry, regional development strategies were created to ensure that mining revenues support long-term social improvements. This experience resonated strongly in the IMC context, where African countries are preparing to implement the African ESG Framework and engage globally with far greater confidence and structure.
The final sessions of the day focused on the practical realities of ESG implementation in emerging markets. One speaker emphasised that many countries possess strong policy frameworks, but operational implementation remains uneven. Regulations often sit at the top of organisations while supervisors and front-line teams lack the tools or clarity to apply them. Communities are sometimes consulted after key decisions have been made, making engagement reactive rather than proactive. The message was clear. ESG cannot sit on paper. It must be embedded from the start of a project, integrated into training, and supported by systems that ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
Throughout the day, conversations inside and outside the formal programme reinforced the same conclusion. Africa’s ability to claim greater value from its mineral resources will depend not only on continental alignment, as highlighted on Day 1, but on the quality of science, governance and participation shaping each operation. Whether discussing particle modelling, water governance, responsible supply chains or ESG implementation, speakers repeatedly underlined that credibility and competitiveness must evolve together.
Day 2 of IMC Morocco 2025 brought the technical and social depth required to support the political ambition expressed on the opening day. It showed that Africa’s mineral transformation will not be driven by declarations alone. It will be built through data, transparent institutions, advanced technologies and the confidence to implement solutions designed for African realities. The discussions made one thing clear. Africa is preparing not only to supply the minerals the world needs, but to define the standards, partnerships and governance models that will shape the global transition economy in the decades ahead.