Provide technical assistance and financial supports for oil exploration projects

Yokohama Action Plan: [5]Provide technical and financial assistance to promote self-reliant utilization of energy and mineral resources.

Proposed Measures by Japan/Implementing Partners: ● Provide technical cooperation and financial assistance for promoting energy and mineral resources industries
● Provide cooperation including the field of remote-sensing for mineral resources in Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Potential Resources, Possible Contributions: GoJ (METI)/JOGMEC : provide technical assistance and financial supports for oil exploration projects

Country: Angola/Botswana/DRC/Lesotho/Malawi/Mozambique/Namibia/South Africa/Tanzania/Zambia/Zimbabwe

Status: (a) JOGMEC held seminars and workshops at the JOGMEC Geologic Remote Sensing Centre in Botswana aiming at transferring basic technology of remote sensing (satellite image analysis) and had about 90 participants from Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, (b) For the purpose of extracting prospective areas through exploration using the latest remote sensing technology and transferring satellite image processing technology, JOGMEC conducted joint analysis at the Centre for the period of about a month and a half with 5 members from the Department of Geological Survey of Botswana from August to September 2009, 4 members from the Geological Survey Department of Zambia from November to December 2009 and 5 members from the National Directorate of Geology of Mozambique from January to February 2010, (c) In July 2009, JOGMEC invited Minister of Mines and Mineral Development of Zambia and held a seminar in Tokyo to promote investment in Zambian mining industry.

Status: (a) JOGMEC, the Council for Geoscience of South Africa and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology of Japan conducted joint geological survey on mineral resources such as rare earths and rare metals and did rare earth separation tests on samples taken from the identified prospective deposits and (b) JOGMEC and MINTEK had a basic agreement on a 5-year joint research program on new technology (bioleaching) in mineral resource processing and it is now in operation.

Status: In August 2009, JOGMEC decided to provide financial support for oil exploration projects.

Status: (a) In association with Botswana and SADC member countries, JOGMEC established the Geologic Remote Sensing Center in Botswana (opened on 28 July 2008) which aimed at extracting potential areas by exploration with advanced remote sensing technologies (satellite image analysis) and transferring satellite image processing techniques, (b) JOGMEC has conducted the training project for the staff of Botswana Geological Survey since August 2008 (four courses will be held by December), and (c) In TICADIV Southern Africa follow-up mission in September, JOGMEC encouraged Mozambique, Madagascar and South Africa to participate in the Project.

Status: In November 2007, during then Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Mr. Amari’s visit to South Africa, (a) JOGMEC with the Council for Geosciences of the Republic of South Africa, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, had an agreement on conducting joint geological investigation for rare earth elements, rare metals and mineral resources, which has being in operation on the 5 year plan and (b) JOGMEC and Mintek had an agreement on joint research on mineral resource processing on the base of new technology (bioleaching), which has been in operation on the 5 year plan.

Status: In November 2008, JOGMEC decided to provide financial support for oil exploration projects.