Technical Assistance
Bugeco was regularly called-upon by international organisations to provide short and long term assistance as support to the national development of the mineral resources in developing countries.
* Burkina Faso:
Under a World Bank financed contract, Bugeco was asked to evaluate the new mining potential of this country. Under a World Bank financed contract, Bugeco assisted the Government in preparing a political document for a new mining strategy and in restructuring the existing mining institution. Under a World Bank financed contract, Bugeco was requested to evaluate the C.B.M.P. and recommended new solutions (1995). In 1997, Bugeco signed a new contract for a five years period to monitor the Sysmin funds made available to the Government of Burkina Faso for airborne geophysical and geological mapping project.
* Democratic Republic of Congo:
On behalf of the government and within a World Bank financed project, Bugeco was in charge of: - Evaluation of the gold potential of Haut Zaire - Preparation of the terms of reference for an airborne geophysical survey to be carried out over the greenstone belts in that area.
* Gabon:
Assessing the Government for the installation of a lime factory (1995). Determination on behalf of EU the eligibility of Gabon to receive Sysmin funds for the development of the mining sector (2000-2001).
* Madagascar:
Under a World Bank financed project (1992), Bugeco assisted the Ministry of Mines in the promotion of mineral resources existing within the country, both for local consumption and for exports, and in the rehabilitation of the chemical and mineralogical laboratory facilities.
* Mali:
Bugeco was requested, by the E.E.C., to prepare the tender documents for a large exploration project and to evaluate the bidding documents. Bugeco was in charge of a large geological mapping and exploration project in the Massigui quadrangle. The project succeeds in discovering gold anomalies. In 1996, Bugeco signed a contract (1996-1998) with the Government of Mali (financed by the World Bank) to improve the mining legislation and taxation and to restructure the State Mining Enterprises. In 1997, Bugeco also signed a contract with the European Investment Bank (B.E.I.) to promote a new mining project.
* Mauritania:
Assisting the Government in improving its mining legislation and taxation, and in restructuring its state mining enterprises (financed by the World Bank, 1997-98).
* Namibia:
Under a large Sysmin (E.E.C.) project, a Bugeco expert was seconded to the Ministry of Mines (1994-2001) in an oversight role concerning the management of twelve major projects:
- Tsudi new underground copper mine,
- Ore reserves extension at Otjihase copper mine and assessment of the Ongombo copper prospect,
- Exploration of the Omitiomire copper prospect,
- Installation of a granite tile cutting plant,
- Financial assistance to Okorusu fluorspar mine,
- Feasibility study of a projected new underground gold mine,
- Environmental impact assessment,
- Development of a number of small scale mines,
- Provision of facilities for the Namibian Institute of Mining Technology,
- Airborne geological Surveys,
- Detailed field investigations of industrial minerals projects,
- Training project.
* Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal:
Under a World Bank financed project (1992), Bugeco experts carried out a critical evaluation of the economics, recuperation, production and the social-related problems of all the small-scale gold mining operations. The study was to assist the government organisations in improving the monitoring of gold mining.
* Niger:
After the preparation (1989 - 1994) of tender documents for two large exploration projects and the evaluation of the offers, Bugeco was requested (1989-1994) to assign a mining geologist to the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Niamey to assist with the supervision of two important development contracts financed by FED Sysmin :
- Liptako gold project
- Coal deposits of Air
Within the Liptako gold exploration project, Bugeco was also in charge of the Samira gold reserve estimation and the preparation of a promotional brochure for the Liptako area.
* Sierra Leone:
Within an EEC financed programme (1987-1992), Bugeco provided technical assistance to the Geological Surveys Department. Activities consisted of:
- Installation of a chemical and mineralogical laboratory, and providing training to national staff in analytical methods, laboratory procedures and management.
- Direct support to the government's gold exploration efforts; geostructural mapping and interpretation, geochemical and geophysical surveys.
- Installation of a computerized unit and training of personnel in data treatment.
* Tanzania:
Bugeco assigned (1987 - 1992) two engineers (a metallurgist and a geophysicist) to the regional mining centre (E.S.A.M.R.D.C.) of Dodoma. Within the E.E.C. financed project the two experts were actively involved in providing services to the member States (Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Angola, Mozambique). Services consist of:
- gold concentration at the Lega Dembi mine in Ethiopia
- Mineral reserves increase and concentration problems at a Buckreef gold mine in Tanzania
- Geophysical prospection over the Kashengi Ridge iron deposit in Uganda
- Geophysical prospection for uranium over Karroo formations in Tanzania
- Compilation of an African geophysical map
- Digitalisation of data from airborne geophysical survey in Tanzania
- Construction, installation and operation of an ore-dressing laboratory at the Centre in Dar Es Salaam
- Bugeco signed a new contract 1996-2001 with E.S.A.M.R.D.C. for the installation and the operation of a new chemical laboratory.