GeoZS  je pomemben partner v projektu PanAfGeo+, ki se je pričel izvajati v letošnjem letu in se bo zaključil v letu 2029. Projekt predstavlja tretjo fazo programa Evropske unije PanAfGeo in temelji na uspehih programov PanAfGeo-1 in PanAfGeo-2, ki sta se izvajala v preteklih letih. Lahko na kratko opišete cilje in namene obeh preteklih projektov  in kakšno nadgradnjo predstavlja projekt PanAfGeo+?

Co-funded by the European Union, PanAfGeo-1 and PanAfGeo-2 were designed to strengthen cooperation between European and African geological institutions and to promote the transfer of knowledge, experience and good practices in the geosciences. The first phase of the project (PanAfGeo-1), launched in 2016, has enabled institutional strengthening of a number of African geological services and improved their capacity to manage geological and mining data. The second phase (PanAfGeo-2), starting in 2021, built on the achievements of the first by systematically training African geoscientists in eight key areas - from geological mapping, mineral exploration and the use of geoinformatics to natural heritage management and environmental issues. The project has also enabled long-term human and institutional capacity building and the development of a network of trainers to take the knowledge forward on the African continent. The third phase, PanAfGeo+, which started in 2024 and will run until 2029, builds on the two previous projects by focusing on sustainable development, energy and digital transformation, and integrating new themes such as critical mineral resources, geospatial data and policy support. The project further strengthens the partnership between EuroGeoSurveys, the Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS) and other stakeholders and consolidates PanAfGeo as a reference framework for intercontinental cooperation in the geosciences.

What were the key activities carried out by GeoZS in both projects and what tasks are ahead of you in the PanAfGeo+ project?

Lead partner

Zakaj je tako pomemben  prenos znanja evropskih geoloških zavodov združenih v EuroGeoSurveys na afriško celino? Ali je ta prenos znanja pomemben  predvsem zaradi njihovih potencialnih nahajališč  mineralnih surovin?

Prenašanje znanja evropskih geoloških zavodov na afriško celino je pomembno, še pomembnejša pa je vzajemna izmenjava znanja med evropskimi in afriškimi partnerji. Takšen pristop krepi strokovne zmogljivosti na obeh straneh ter spodbuja trajnostno upravljanje naravnih virov. Več znanja pomeni več koristi za ljudi, gospodarstvo in okolje. V času energetske in digitalne preobrazbe je to še posebej pomembno, saj so mineralne surovine, ki  omogočajo to preobrazbo, prisotne tako v Afriki kot v Evropi. Evropa prispeva  s prenosom znanstvenih metod, izkušenj in tehnologij za odgovorno in trajnostno rabo mineralnih surovin.

Lead partner

As coordinator, GeoZS coordinates the work of European and African partners in achieving the objectives of the Uganda Country Window. The main objective is to establish a reliable database of data, information and knowledge on potential critical resource deposits in Uganda. The compilation is carried out through the analysis of archival sources, specialist literature and online databases, as well as through field geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys. The second specific objective is to strengthen the capacity of the Geological Survey of Uganda (GSD) through transfer of expertise, staff training and improvement of technical equipment. The third objective is to effectively promote identified potential mineral deposits in order to encourage further exploration and responsible investment that will contribute to the sustainable development of the country in the long term and improve the livelihoods of the local population.

Kako pomembno je,  poleg tehnične krepitve zmogljivosti Geološkega zavoda Ugande na področju geoloških znanosti,  tudi ozaveščanje o trajnostnem pridobivanju kritičnih mineralnih surovin? 

Ozaveščanje lokalnega prebivalstva je v vsakem okolju prva in temeljna aktivnost pred začetkom kakršnihkoli  geoloških raziskav. To smo izkusili tudi na posvetu z lokalno skupnostjo v Ugandi, kjer so bili prebivalci zelo zainteresirani, kaj in kako bomo izvajali na njihovem območju, saj se zavedajo, da imajo vsi posegi vpliv tudi na  lokalno skupnost. Ozaveščanje lokalnega prebivalstva o trajnostnem pridobivanju kritičnih mineralnih surovin, vključevanje lokalnih skupnosti ter spodbujanje razumevanja trajnostnih načel je izjemno pomembno in ključno za uspeh ter odgovorno upravljanje z naravnimi viri. Pred začetkom raziskav je torej nujno vzpostaviti odprt  in kontinuiran dialog z lokalno skupnostjo, saj so prav prebivalci tisti, ki bodo dolgoročno živeli z učinki teh dejavnosti.

Ravnokar ste se vrnili iz Ugande.  Kakšni konkretni premiki na  projektu so bili doseženi na  srečanju?

The inaugural PanAfGeo+ Uganda Country Window event took place on 30 September and 1 October 2025 in Entebbe. Hosted by the Geological Survey of Uganda (GSD) and coordinated by the Geological Survey of Slovenia, the event brought together senior government representatives, European partners and technical experts. The Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Resources Development, Ms Phiona Nyamutoro, officially launched the implementation of the programme and underlined Uganda's commitment to responsible mining development with data, transparent governance and inclusive growth. The event included panel discussions, technical presentations and talks on geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, with a strong focus on training, modern exploration methods and the promotion of investment in mineral exploration and exploitation.

Na začetnem srečanju smo naredili pomembne korake pri organizaciji prihodnjih projektnih aktivnosti. Postavili smo temelje za tri ključne segmente projekta: zbiranje podatkov o potencialnih nahajališčih, krepitev zmogljivosti Ugandskega geološkega zavoda ter promocijo aktivnosti. Dogovorili smo  tudi  terminski načrt konkretnih aktivnosti, vključno s terenskimi raziskavami, ki bodo potekale v prihodnjem letu. Srečanje je tako zagotovilo jasen okvir za izvedbo projekta in krepitev sodelovanja med evropskimi in afriškimi partnerji.