Lusaka progarmme of action for the development and utilization of mineral resources in Africa

Abstract

One of the most important requirements for accelerating the socio-economic advancement of the African region, as called for of the Lagos Plan of Action is the development of the mineral sector in line with the increased use of minerals and mineral products in the economies of the African countries. At present the consumption of minerals and mineral products in most African countries is very low compared with other regions of the world. The mining industry in Africa is going through a severe crisis and all mining ventures, apart perhaps from those involved in noble metals and previous and semi precious stones, have in recent years suffered appreciably from low sales and falling commodity prices, escalating capital investment costs, high production costs, growing competition in mineral development, and overproduction throughout the world.