Mining Indaba - Richard Dion

Richard Dion

Senior Advisor CONNEX Support

Richard Dion is Senior Advisor at the CONNEX Support Unit. His background includes more than a decade with Royal Dutch/Shell plc, initially working with the new business development team in Central Asia and the former Soviet Union and then managing the company’s human rights and revenue transparency policies. He has consulted for the public sector, private firms, and foundations. An American citizen, he is a UCLA graduate where he completed Masters studies in Urban Management and Governance and Russian politics.

Agenda Sessions

Keynote Panel: Unlocking the future of African mining through balanced contracts

Many African countries have yet to maximise the true value of their mineral resources since gaining independence. This is related to issues such as weak governance, limited knowledge, limited assessment or control of their mineral resources or geodata to underpin negotiations, inadequate capacity, and unfair contracts. Poorly negotiated contracts often lead to poor outcomes for the environment, host communities, civil society, governments, investors, and lenders. Bad contracts and outcomes also hinder mining investment, and affect the supply of important minerals and the stability and security of the mining value chain. Nonetheless, because Africa hosts significant reserves of the minerals required for the energy transition mining, mining on the continent is expected to expand in the foreseeable future, boding well for the future – not least through contracts that are fairer to the owners of the mineral resources.

Wednesday 08 February 11:00 - 12:00 Main Stage

Main Stage

Add to calendar 02/08/2023 11:00 02/08/2023 12:00 Keynote Panel: Unlocking the future of African mining through balanced contracts Many African countries have yet to maximise the true value of their mineral resources since gaining independence. This is related to issues such as weak governance, limited knowledge, limited assessment or control of their mineral resources or geodata to underpin negotiations, inadequate capacity, and unfair contracts. Poorly negotiated contracts often lead to poor outcomes for the environment, host communities, civil society, governments, investors, and lenders. Bad contracts and outcomes also hinder mining investment, and affect the supply of important minerals and the stability and security of the mining value chain. Nonetheless, because Africa hosts significant reserves of the minerals required for the energy transition mining, mining on the continent is expected to expand in the foreseeable future, boding well for the future – not least through contracts that are fairer to the owners of the mineral resources. Main Stage Europe/London

Panel 2: Partnerships between the EU and African countries: sustainable investments for the

The panel will gather representatives from Africa, the European Union, financial institutions and the private sector. It will create a space for dialogue to identify practical ways of building mutually beneficial, sustainable partnerships together.

Panel 2 – Practical tools to promote EU sustainable investments
What instruments are available to promote the investment climate of producing countries?
What are the factors that influence private sector’s investments decisions?

Wednesday 08 February 15:00 - 16:00 Level 1 Stage

Special Content

Add to calendar 02/08/2023 15:00 02/08/2023 16:00 Panel 2: Partnerships between the EU and African countries: sustainable investments for the The panel will gather representatives from Africa, the European Union, financial institutions and the private sector. It will create a space for dialogue to identify practical ways of building mutually beneficial, sustainable partnerships together.

Panel 2 – Practical tools to promote EU sustainable investments
What instruments are available to promote the investment climate of producing countries?
What are the factors that influence private sector’s investments decisions?

Level 1 Stage Europe/London

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