South Africa and China launch mining research partnership

South Africa and China have launched a joint research centre in an area crucial to both economies: mining and natural resources.

South African science minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and her Chinese counterpart, Zhang Jianguo, attended the launch of the Chinese part of the centre on 21 September. The South African arm was launched by the Department of Science and Technology director-general, Phil Mjwara, and Xu Namping, China’s vice minister for science and technology, on 11 September.

The South African end of the Joint Research Centre for the Development and Utilisation of Mineral Resources will be hosted by Mintek, the national minerals research agency. The Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy hosts the Chinese node.