Makor Resources receives Innovate UK funding for Project Sensr360

Junior miners Makor Resources and UK-based environmental data collection tools provider AUYAN have announced that they have received funding from the British national innovation agency, Innovate UK, to develop their joint Project Sensr360.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / December 9, 2024 – Project Sensr360 is aimed at using satellite imagery, other remote sensing technologies, and AI, to create a monitoring system to evaluate and measure the risks associated with investments in mining and other capital-intensive environmentally and socially sensitive sectors. The UK funding will help drive forward the technical development, on-the-ground verification and commercialisation of the system.

“As the energy transition intensifies, so does the demand for critical minerals,” explains Makor CEO Brooke Bibeault. “The affordability and speed of the energy transition will be heavily influenced by the availability of critical mineral supplies and could further push mining into environmentally and socially sensitive areas. The industry finds itself at a crossroads, seeking innovative ways to meet the world’s resource demands while minimising its impact on the environment and the local communities, fostering responsible mining practices and guaranteeing sustainable development.”

“Satellite imaging provides a layer of information that complements data from in-situ remote sensors at mines,” points out AUYAN founder and key development partner Alix Leroy.

“Our technology allows us to monitor the impact of mining activity over time, detecting potential environmental risks through wastewater monitoring and vegetation change detection. Remote sensing boosted by AI supports automating assessment of environmental risks in the mining sector in a scalable, cost-effective and more accurate fashion. This leads to actionable insights being produced faster, near real-time, and with great accuracy.”

The purpose of Project Sensr360 is to support due diligence and investment de-risking by providing comprehensive situational awareness through continuous and real-time monitoring of mining operations and their environmental and social impacts. That real-time monitoring translates into the provision of near real-time data on land use and degradation, water resources and contamination locations, deforestation, migration and movement, safety measures, illicit activities, infrastructure development and permit registration. Such information is essential for responsible energy transition mining and climate change mitigation.

The system is innovative, accessible and cost-efficient. It is aimed at junior miners, who do not have the resources of the major mining groups, who can afford current satellite imagery, AI, and advanced data analysis capabilities.

“A number of the resources required for a just transition sit in Africa, and significant amounts of external investment – both financial and human capital – are required to make the sustainable extraction of this possible,” highlights Makor Chairperson Ricus Grimbeek. “Sensr360’s solution offers investors detailed insights to make informed and responsible investment decisions. It provides continuous and real-time monitoring of virtually all activities to secure the capital-intensive investment over a long-dated period.”

Makor Resources, Jubilee partner with Zambian government to support agriculture

Makor Resources and Jubilee Metals Zambia have partnered to support the Zambian government’s efforts to provide agricultural inputs to subsistence farmers, following a drought that impacted on agriculture and food security in the country.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA / October 18, 2024 – Ndola district commissioner Joseph Phiri joined Makor Resources CEO Brooke Bibeault and Jubilee Metals MD Ricus Grimbeek to distribute Compound-D and Urea fertiliser, along with drought-tolerant maize seedings, to beneficiaries across the Munkulungwe ward in Ndola.

This programme was hosted by the Bwana Mkubwa families who were resettled last year by previous mine owners First Quantum Minerals, and was also attended by ward councillor Lombe Kaweme, senior Ndola agricultural officer Zeniah Nambeye Chitema, civic leaders and community members.

“Our aim is to provide lifesaving support to subsistence farmers, particularly those who have recently resettled from their ancestral homes at the outset of the drought, along with those most vulnerable farmers,” says Bibeault.

“These farmers have faced crop failures, reduced harvests, critical food shortages and malnutrition, forcing them to adopt desperate measures like selling off essential assets or skipping meals,” she adds.

The beneficiary farmers of this collaborative effort between Makor Resources, Jubilee Metals Zambia and the local government included elders, the physically disabled and widowed women who rely on agricultural production.

Makor Resources and Jubilee Metals Zambia will also scale this distribution programme to the rural communities surrounding the Munkoyo mine in Kapiri Mposhi later this month.

This effort aims to promote sustainable agriculture, increase yields and improve livelihoods, especially in the face of climate change and environmental challenges.

Bibeault and Grimbeek emphasise the importance of collaboration to ensure that communities live in better ways in terms of the extractive industry.

“I will keep advocating at all levels for cooperation between large-scale mining companies to work together to improve the lives of the communities we impact and have impacted. It is not just good for business but also the right thing to do,” Grimbeek states.  

Many of the rural farms surrounding mine operations are disadvantaged, given tthe remoteness from the capital, rugged terrain, environmental risk, climate vulnerability and reliance on subsistence farming.

Moreover, households have minimal access to agricultural inputs, especially fertilisers, the companies point out.

This lack of access is compounded by unfavourable environmental conditions and limited access to profitable markets. These factors have affected agricultural productivity, production and income, subsequently contributing to high levels of chronic malnutrition and food insecurity, they add.

“It is crucial that we encourage other companies to follow the examples set by Makor Resources and Jubilee Metals. Their contributions do not go unnoticed and are a testament to the spirit of solidarity and community resilience that we cherish. Their commitment to supporting our communities is commendable and should inspire others in the mining sector to engage in similar initiatives,” Phiri highlights.  

Makor Resources and Jubilee Metals Group announce partnership - a shared commitment toward sustainable change in Zambia

Makor Resources has partnered with LSE/JSE-listed Jubilee Metals Group, majority owner of the recently acquired Munkoyo Copper Mine in Zambia and leading diversified metals processor in Africa, to catalyze systemic change and sustainable development across the Munkoyo Mine Corridor.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA / July 16, 2024 – Located along the Munkoyo Mine Corridor Road 50km outside of Kabwe Zambia, is Kabanga Primary School – a place where many of the locals previously would say, "has been forgotten".

Rural. No cellular signal. No access to running water. Dilapidated pit latrines polluting the ground water. Inadequate infrastructure with dust clouds tainting the classrooms. Barren lands from the crippling drought that has swept across Zambia.

A description that Makor Resources CEO, Brooke Bibeault, has shared following her recent visit to The Kabanga Primary School.

Makor Resource and Jubilee Metals Group announced their partnership to launch #MakingKabanga, an initiative to foster economic development, health, and education while addressing systemic issues and basic human rights within the Munkoyo Mine Corridor.

Brooke Bibeault, Makor Resources Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"We are honoured to partner with Jubilee Metals Group and the community to develop programs at the outset of Jubilee's most recent acquisition. Jubilee uniquely recognizes that business economic progress becomes congruent to community progress, and it means that they are not treating community social challenges as an afterthought or an expense.

Mining depends on communities and as an industry, it's our role to push sustainable development for host countries and communities. We believe that the future of mining includes communities in the decisions that affect their lives and empowers them to become active participants in all programming to lead the ongoing development. Our model isn't just about localization, it's about communitization."

This week Makor Resources and Jubilee Metals Group were welcomed by pupils of the Kabanga Primary School singing, "Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free", the Zambian Anthem.

Inside the dusted classroom walls of the Kabanga Primary School gathered community stakeholders of the Munkoyo Mine Corridor. This was a gathering that was facilitated by Mary Sankata Mubanga, Manager of Security, Safety and Government Relations for Jubilee Metals Zambia.

During this gathering, Jubilee Metals Group Chief Executive Officer, Leon Coetzer, expressed his gratitude for the way in which the community engaged and shared,

"It is an honour to be hosted and welcomed by the Kumpumba Ward in Zambia. Together we have set out various initiatives that we will be implementing, and we are committed to delivering on these. We are excited to be working with the community to bring about both positive and sustainable change."

Attendees included:

Jubilee Metals Group Chief Executive Officer, Leon Coetzer, and Jubilee Metals Zambia Managing Director, Ricus Grimbeek

District Commissioner of Kapiri Mposhi District, Hasalama Chuunka Francis and other Senior Government Officials.

Kumpumba Ward Traditional Leaders

Makor Resources Chief Executive Officer, Brooke Bibeault, the Community Development and Implementation Partner for Jubilee Metals Zambia.

Douglas Hanchingala, Shareholder in the Munkoyo Mine

Civic Leaders and Community Members

Teachers of the Kabanga Primary School

Members of Staff from Jubilee Metals Zambia

"Today wasn't just about creating the foundation for a collaborative partnership between Jubilee Metals Zambia, Makor Resources and all community stakeholders" say Ricus Grimbeek, Jubilee Metals Zambia Managing Director, "it was about coming together with a shared vision to create a new future for the Munkoyo Corridor. It was about making a commitment to ensure no community is ever forgotten."

The gathering concluded with attendees and community members grabbing paint brushes and buckets of white and blue paint. Alongside one another, the community painted the concrete barren walls of the Kabanga Primary School – the launching of #MakingKabanga.

"Each brushstroke reflects a shared commitment toward driving sustainable change within the community" says Bibeault.

Munkoyo Mine Corridor Community Programming

Initial investment into the community and programming is informed by extensive engagement and a comprehensive Community Baseline and Needs Assessment that was conducted by Makor Resource along the Munkoyo Mine Corridor. The findings underscored the urgent need for clean water and formal sanitation, with 100% of the Corridor having no access to running water and 97% without formal sanitation facilities.

Jubilee Metals Group is investing $25,000 into the #MakingKabanga program to provide access to clean water, sanitation and educational infrastructure improvements to the Kabanga Primary School. These programs will be developed and implemented in partnership with Makor Resources.

Clean Water Access

This investment will provide access to clean water to the Munkoyo Mine Corridor. This effort aims to alleviate water scarcity and improve health outcomes and will be the first time that the community has had access to clean running water.

Sustainable Sanitation Solutions

To address systemic sanitation issues a capacity building program will be implemented to enable community members to build their own compost toilets. These toilets use off-the-grid, dry sanitation technology that transforms waste into valuable compost, supporting both hygiene and agricultural productivity. These toilets can be built by the community using only local material. At the Kabanga Primary School, 6 compost toilets will be built with the community and provided to the pupils and staff, along with a sanitation and maintenance training program.

Installation of Solar Pump and Water Storage

At the Kabanga Primary School a new borehole will be drilled, and a solar pump and water storage tank installed. This will enable access to clean running water and will feed the hand washing basins that are being providing by Jubilee.

Educational Infrastructure Improvements

The initial phase of these initiatives began with the collaborative painting of the Kabanga Primary School. In addition, this will include further development of infrastructure such as the Munkoyo Corridor Road.

"The initial programming provides a rapid, measurable shift in some of the most pressing systemic issues within the community and is the first of a broader strategy that has been developed for the Munkoyo Mine Corridor" says by Mary Sankata Mubanga.

The overwhelming response from the District Commissioner showed the determination towards the proposed projects and assured that the community will work hand in hand with Jubilee Metals Group and Makor Resources. He has provided his support to ensure that Jubilee's Munkoyo Mine runs successfully.