Post #331

Ready to Depart?🛫 Why do so many mining companies in Africa build their own airfields? 🛰 When you look at satellite images of open-pit mines run by foreign companies, you’ll often spot a thin grey strip nearby — an airfield. But what 's the purpose? 🏢 Such facilities are a sign of reluctance to invest in local development. No need to spend money on building a decent road, no need to invest in public safety, and no risk of losing contact with the outside world if tensions flare with local communities. ℹ️🇲🇱🇧🇫🇸🇳ℹ️Airstrips at mining sites are most common in West Africa, where existing infrastructure is most limited and where the main products is gold. The reason is simple: gold doré bars (as well as diamonds) take up little space in comparison with their enormous value. ℹ️🇿🇲🇿🇼🇨🇩ℹ️They are far less common in the Copperbelt, where ground infrastructure already exists and where the product — copper — cannot be shipped out in someone’s pockets. 🔸 If companies were shorn of the ability to bypass weak local infrastructure so easily, they would certainly be more inclined to invest in community development and transport networks, which would have a multiplier effect for local economies. ➡️ Follow to stay informed - @devilsbelow