“We have won seven exploration and mining permits, including four for phosphates and the others for titanium, zircon, gold, copper and lithium, all in Senegal. In January 2012 we will begin prospecting on the phosphate and gold blocks,” Tender said.
At the same time, Prospectiuni concluded a memorandum with Senegal’s national oil company, Petrosen, to create a joint venture called Petro-Prospect.
The newly formed company will be registered in Dakar and it will be 51% owned by Petrosen.
“The company will perform for the oil and gas industry, for state-owned and private companies in Africa. Decisions within the company require two thirds of votes,” Tender said.
Prospectiuni will have some 400 Senegalese employees by March 2012.
One week ago, Tender’s company concluded a memorandum with Guinea Bissau authorities for the geological investigation of the entire country, namely a surface of 40,000 square kilometers.
“Guinea Bissau wants to know its resources, but it lacks the funds. The operation will be funded with a supplier loan, and the investment could reach several tens of millions of euro,” Tender said.
He added his goal is to transform Prospectiuni into a “world class” company.
“We have operations in North America, we want to get to South Africa, India, Pakistan, Cambodia. Technology wise, we are on par with the world’s largest company of this type,” Tender said.
In addition, Tender wants to unfold agriculture operations in Africa, on a surface of one million hectares. Here, the businessman said he plans to grow traditional products, as well as plants for biofuel.
The investment in agriculture reaches some $500 per hectare, for crops, and revenue is estimated at $1,000 per hectare.
Tender also plans to get into the air transport business in western Africa, through an association with TACV, the state-owned Cabo Verde airline.
“We came later than others here in Africa, but we’re making room,” Tender said.