In this interview at the 8th Nigeria Mining Week, MineLab Business Development manager for Middle East and Africa, Sheriff Hastley, shed light on the use and efficiency of Mine Lab technology in artisanal gold mining.
Q: First, let us meet you; your name and designation.
A: My name is Sheriff Hastley, an Egyptian. I’m working for MineLab Metal Detectors, which is an Australian company specialising in handheld metal detectors. I’m the Business Development Manager based in Dubai, responsible for the Middle East and Africa.
Q: What do you do, and how does it contribute to the federal government’s development drive in the solid minerals sector?
A: MineLab is considered the number one company in the world for metal detecting, specifically for gold metal detecting. We have been manufacturing metal detectors for more than 35 years. We have all different kinds of ranges of metal detectors starting with the primary ones like the Gold Monster, reaching up to the most professional, which is a GPZ 7000. So basically, our machines help artisanal miners become more cost effective, more efficient, and it is better for the environment. Therefore, when they start using our metal detectors, out of the benefits that they get, basically, they start building in their communities; they start improving their livelihoods.
We have seen communities grow from nothing. And now they are having their own hospitals, schools, and all the infrastructure that has been built by artisanal miners using our machines. So our plan in Nigeria here is to help develop mining with the government with all different entities. We are here to train the artists, the miners on the benefits of metal detectors, how to use them how to operate and all these different things.
Q: How close are you to the government, especially the ministry, now that your services are critical to the development of the sector?
A: Of course, MineLab has been coming to Nigeria for more than five years now. We are already registered as a company with the Miners Association of Nigeria; we have met several times with Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, (SMDF); we have recently met the new Minister of Solid Minerals Development. And the good thing is, we have just partnered with a local company in Nigeria, they are becoming our foremost dealer and they are very well connected and they will help us to promote our detectors more with the key stakeholders within the country.
Q: You are at the Nigeria Mining Week this year again. What are your expectations?
A: The Nigeria Mining Week has always been one of the biggest mining expos in Africa. This year, I see it’s quite bigger, more exhibitors showing, more international companies coming, which gives the outlook that the government is really looking forward to developing the mining sector. There has always been this kind of development and involvement of the government within the mining sector; it’s something that we don’t see a lot among African countries. African countries usually have some sort of illegalities linked to artisanal mining, However, here in Nigeria, it’s becoming more and more pronounced with awareness growing on how best to manage it. They’re trying to build the proper structure for artisanal miners, and this is basically what we are trying to promote by our exhibition here at the Nigeria Mining Week – meeting with the right stakeholders, telling them about the benefits of involving the artisanal miners directly with the government, with NGOs, with even the large scale mining companies.
Basically, through our events here, this is actually where we met our local dealer last year. So from those events, we also got the right contacts, have the right information of who we should partner with. And MineLab, like I told you, is one of the biggest companies, so we do not just enter any country without knowing what we are doing. This kind of event helps give us an outlook on the actual market requirements and the actual strong players that we need to partner with.
Q: Along the value chain of the Mining industry, which segment do your services fit in most?
A: the first part, actually. The mining operations, and that is the exploration phase. Though as a company, we are not involved directly in the exploration, our machines are the ones that are being used by the artisanal miners to explore new areas of gold. And when I say new areas of gold, that is the first part. Artisanal miners are the ones that start all the gold mining operations because whenever artisanal miners are present, that means that there are gold deposits that are very near the surface. Our machines usually have a depth of two to three, four metres maximum.
And whenever there is gold at that depth, then there’s 100% gold beneath that. So even big mining companies, whenever they see artisanal miners working, that’s a good indication for them to start increasing their operations in the country.
Q: With your about five years experience with the Nigerian mining industry, especially through your participation in the mining week, can you point out one or two impacts or achievements you can beat your chest to say you have recorded?
A: Through these years, honestly, there had been a lot of holdup, especially because of the COVID-19. We had two to three years break from the Nigeria Mining Week. However, we still managed to attend it virtually. But to be honest, having face to face meetings with people and key people is much more effective. So last year when we attended the event, was when we made the biggest stride in our journey as we found a local partner, which is now helping us develop the market. So this is what I can see as a key takeaway from the mining week. Of course, you get to hear all about the new projects, all the new funds that have been dedicated for artisanal mining.
Q: Do you have any recommendations for the Nigerian government and other stakeholders towards a brighter future for the Nigeria Mining Week?
To be honest, the mining week of Nigeria is one of the few events that we participate in, mainly because it’s already quite advanced. So the only recommendation I would have is, don’t stop it, always keep doing it. Keep growing the attention of international players coming in because, look, I’m from Africa, I’m from Egypt, we always understand that having international investors coming into play is a good start, they will also help you develop the local market. This is where all the money is. So attract international investors in your country and at the same time use them to localise and help create job locations for your local people.
Q: How many versions of your machine do you have here at this event?
A: Here now, basically, we have two versions, one is the Gold Monster, which is the entry level and the other one is a GPZ 7000, which is the highest level and professional model. We have a wide range of products. We have four machines which cater to the different requirements and needs of the system. The main difference between each machine is basically the depth of operation, how deep you can find the gold and the size of gold you can find. So, the GPZ for example, is our deepest machine. If you’re looking for a big gold targets, this machine will help you find gold at around two to four meters. But the Gold Monster helps you find the very small gold nuggets. We call it everyday gold mining machine because artisanal miners would want to find gold every single day. And this machine is very good in that and it helps you also to locate the gold veins.
