By Charmaine Ndlela
Johannesburg-headquartered Dhahabu Mining used the closing day of the African Mining Indaba to warn that rail, power and water constraints are keeping critical minerals projects “in the ground”, saying that public-private partnerships are essential to unlocking South Africa’s growth ambitions in the sector.
“Infrastructure is the unseen bottleneck. You can have the best orebody and flowsheet, but without rail, power, and water, it stays in the ground. Public-private partnership is the only way forward,” Dhahabu Mining founder and CEO Arthur Quphe, told Inside Politics.
The Investing in African Mining Indaba, which started earlier this week in Cape Town, concludes on Thursday.
Quphe said the company aims to catalyse growth in South Africa’s critical minerals sector by moving the country beyond exporting raw ore.
“Our vision is to position South Africa as the go-to destination for responsible critical minerals production, not just exporters of ore, but processors of value,” he said.
He said infrastructure investment would be decisive as buyers demand traceable, low-carbon and ethically produced minerals, describing this as an opportunity for South Africa if it can execute.
“Globally, markets are fragmenting. Buyers want traceable, low carbon, ethically produced minerals. That’s an advantage for South Africa if we get the infrastructure right. Our policy position is simple, strategic, ring fenced infrastructure investment for critical minerals corridors,” he said.
Quphe said Dhahabu’s approach prioritises long-term community impact and local beneficiation.
“For communities, this means jobs that last beyond the mine life, local procurement, and skills transfer that leaves people employable elsewhere. We’re not passing through, we’re building capability,” he said.
Quphe said the company evaluates projects beyond technical feasibility when forming partnerships, with environmental and social responsibility a key consideration.
“For investors, due diligence is no longer just about geology. We assess technical viability alongside environmental and social licence. If a partner isn’t committed to water stewardship, community engagement, and local beneficiation, we’re not the right fit. We want investors who see sustainability as bankability, not a checkbox.”
He said operational integration underpins what the company views as excellence.
“Excellence, for us, means no silos. We integrate metallurgy, engineering, and operations from day one. A plant designer who hasn’t worked in operations will miss practical realities. I’ve spent 20 years on both sides, so at Dhahabu, our flowsheets are not just theoretically optimal, they’re operable, maintainable, and adaptable to real world conditions,” he said.
“We integrate digital tools with traditional expertise, and crucially, local knowledge. Our best engineering happens when global best practise meets on the ground reality. That’s how you get excellence that actually delivers.”
At this year’s Indaba, Quphe said Dhahabu presented tangible solutions rather than promotional material.
“We’re taking solutions, not brochures. Specifically, proven flowsheet concepts for critical minerals such as lithium, rare earths, and copper that reduce water and energy intensity, case studies in technical due diligence that helped projects secure funding, and most importantly, a genuine partnership mandate.”
“We’re not there to pitch and leave. We’re there to listen, connect, and identify where our technical capability can unlock someone else’s project. We’re taking a track record, not just a promise.”
He said collaboration is increasingly essential as the mining sector evolves and supply chain expectations tighten.
“Mining is no longer a solo endeavour. The complexity of critical minerals, the energy transition, and global supply chain expectations mean no single company has all the answers. Indaba is where capital meets technical credibility and policy direction.”
“For Dhahabu, it’s where we find the partners we don’t yet know we need and where Africa demonstrates, not demands, its place in the global energy future. If you’re serious about African mining, you have to be in the room.”
INSIDE BUSINESS