from SAMBULO DLAMINI in Mbabane, Eswatini
Eswatini Bureau
MBABANE, (CAJ News) – ESWATINI is tapping into the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in a geoscientific mapping exercise to explore potentially vast and untapped onshore mineral resources.
This is under the aegis of the second phase of the Eswatini Multi-disciplinary Geoscience Mapping project, launched by Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Prince Lonkhokhela.
“This project involves conducting an airborne geophysical survey and combining the high resolution geophysical data with the available geological and geochemical data, using artificial intelligence, to identify and prioritise potential mineral targets,” he explained.
The minister noted geoscientific mapping and characterisation of the landscape of the Kingdom nation formerly known as Swaziland formed an integral part in stimulating economic growth and investment.
Slightly more than half the economy of the Southern African nation is concentrated in services and industry, particularly manufacturing, comprising another third.
Eswatini’s economic roadmap of 2018-2023 identified the mining industry as one of the pillars for economic diversification.
“For investment to take place in this sector of the economy, quality and reliable geoscientific data and information is one of the requirements for potential mining investors to make quick decisions on investing in the kingdom,” Lonkhokhela said.
The exercise follows the completion of the first phase in 2001.
The phase covered the Hhohho and Manzini regions, where four minerals, namely copper-nickel-platinum group elements, diamond, gold and iron ore were discovered.
The second phase will cover the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions.
– CAJ News