News

BGSi recently visited the Ministry of Minerals in Khartoum to commence a major project designed to develop and diversify Sudan’s mineral sector. The 3 year project will undertake restructuring and institutional reform of the geological survey, develop a metadatabase for the Ministry’s geodata holdings, and upgrade IT hardware and software, including development of a geodata information management system.

Burkina Faso

BGS International has signed a contract with a World Bank Funded Programme to provide technical assistance to the Office of Mines and Geology (BUMIGEB) to set up a series of terms of references for geological mapping, high-resolution airborne geophysical survey, geochemical sampling programme and the development of geochemical laboratory facilities and a geodata information management system. This will be followed by a supervisory phase once the contractors have been appointed. BGS International has assembled a team of experts for the project and has made excellent progress.

Republic of the Sudan

BGS International is pleased to announce its support and assistance to the Ministry of Minerals, Khartoum as part of its drive to reform its mineral sector. This includes a reform of GRAS (Geological Research Authority of the Republic of Sudan) together with the development and implementation of its geodata management systems. BGSi is privileged to assist the Ministry in its ambitious plans to attract exploration investment into the country.

David Ovadia retired from his role as Managing Director of BGSi at the end of August but continues to provide his expertise and knowledge as a non-executive Director on the Company’s Board.

David’s role was pivotal in setting up BGSi as a commercial ‘spin out’ of the British Geological Survey and the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC). His involvement included the drafting of the business case to form BGSi as an independent ‘spin out’ of the BGS along with the all-important phase of attracting start-up investment for the Company. The Company was registered in December 2010 and effectively started trading in June 2011.

David’s extensive network of contacts around the world was and continues to be an important asset for the company. On behalf of BGSi we would like to wish David a pleasant retirement and we look forward to your continued interest and input in the growth and development of the company.

Dr Peter Zawada has taken on the role of managing director of BGS International following on from the retirement of David Ovadia.

A geologist with 27 years of experience, Peter brings with him a wealth of expertise in South Africa, where he was responsible for multi-million dollar programmes and capacity-building initiatives in Africa. He was the Executive manager of regional geoscience and mapping at the Council for Geoscience, South Africa until leaving in September to take up the position as Director in October 2011. His experience in South Africa and across the continent demonstrated the vital link between the development of mineral resources and their positive impact on the continent seeing also, many examples of how mineral development has been a ‘game changer’ for many African economies. Although a ‘Brit’ by birth, Peter seems himself as very much of Africa and is passionate about the growth and development of a continent that will ‘continue to surprise in terms of its people, resources and ingenuity’.

In summing up Peter said that ‘It is a great privilege to have joined BGSi. As managing director I want to lead the company into a dynamic period of growth and development that will make a real and positive impact on Africa, its people and globally in the mineral resource sector’.

BGSi is delighted to welcome to the team Antony Benham, our new Chief Operations Officer.

Having previously worked as a mining and exploration geologist for Gold Fields of South Africa, and then as an economic geologist and business development manager for the British Geological Survey for ten years, Antony is well placed to deliver business development and project management in regions such as Afghanistan and the Republic of Sudan.

His role within BGSi as Chief Operations Officer is to oversee, manage and successfully complete projects awarded to the company, as well as developing the business portfolio of projects we undertake.

Antony said: ‘I am thrilled to join BGSi at a time of real opportunity and growth for the company. I am looking forward to helping BGSi expand and raise its profile internationally with new projects and new clients’.