As global trends in the mining industry shift, the immense mineral potential of the African continent is increasingly becoming the focus of world economies. Geological Engineer, AFMICO Founder, and Barkom Group Export Sales Manager Vural Burç Çakır is among the names closely following this transformation with both academic expertise and extensive field experience. Çakır emphasizes that with the right steps, Türkiye can secure a strong position in Africa’s mining ecosystem and gain a competitive edge globally through the development of local technologies. He also describes the Simandou Project as “a game-changing development for the steel industry.”
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your work?
I graduated from the Geological Engineering Department of Ankara University. After graduation, I completed my master’s degree in stable isotope geochemistry at California State University Long Beach in the United States with a Fulbright scholarship. I strive to combine my academic background with field experience to specialize in mineral exploration and drilling technologies.
I am currently the founder and director of the Africa Mining Community (AFMICO), a platform focused on Africa’s mining sector. I also serve as the Export Sales Manager at BARKOM GROUP Drilling Machines and Equipment, where I oversee our company’s international market growth and business development activities.
How do you evaluate the recent development of Türkiye’s mining sector? What major changes do you see, particularly in drilling technologies?
Mining activities in Türkiye have been growing and improving steadily in recent years. Yet, across all segments of the sector—from mineral reserves to domestic and international exploration activities, from production to beneficiation, from processing to final products and exports—we hold tremendous untapped potential. However, we still have a long way to go to fully unlock it. In my view, the first and most critical issue is to stop exporting raw minerals and instead process the ore domestically to produce end products, thereby keeping the value-added within the country.
Meanwhile, we are in a period where the concept of “sustainability” is gaining increasing importance worldwide. Yet even prior to this, there is a fundamental responsibility: every individual earning a living from these lands, and every domestic or foreign company operating here, is obligated to leave the lowest possible footprint on nature and the environment. We owe this responsibility first to our homeland—entrusted to us by heroes who sacrificed their lives—and second to our planet, where we are merely guests.
The most significant transformation in drilling technologies has been the rapid adoption of automation systems that enhance work safety and minimize deviations caused by human factors. For example, “automatic rod loading robots,” which pick up drill rods from the rack and feed them into the machine without human contact, are receiving great interest—particularly in the African market. Another technology that draws my attention is “core orientation tools.” These allow the true position, strike, and dip of small-scale faults and veins on core samples to be determined with high accuracy, significantly improving geological modeling and enabling more precise tracking of mineralization underground. In geology, the devil truly is in the details; even small pieces of data can yield major advantages. I believe that producing such advanced technologies domestically in Türkiye would significantly increase our competitiveness in international markets. Turkish manufacturing already holds a strong global reputation for reliable quality and reasonable cost. When this is combined with technological advancement, R&D, and innovation, very few competitors would be able to stand in our way.
“Africa is the Mining Heart of the World”
Could you tell us about the Africa Mining Community (AFMICO) project you founded? What inspired this initiative?
Africa Mining Community (AFMICO) is a knowledge-sharing platform designed for professionals interested in Africa’s mining sector—geologists, engineers, investors, manufacturers, contractors, academics, and students. On AFMICO, we share key developments from the African mining industry every day, including news bulletins, summaries of scientific articles and research, suppliers offering products and services to the African market, and up-to-date job postings.
If I had to define Africa in three words, I would say without hesitation: “the mining heart of the world.” Therefore, I believe that a professional working in the mining industry is missing a vital component if Africa is not within their scope. During my research on Africa, I noticed that there was no platform fully aligned with the vision AFMICO aims to provide today. To fill this gap, I launched the Africa Mining Community page on LinkedIn and brought the project to life with daily, consistent content. Reaching 10,000 followers in just 110 days proved that we were on the right path.
What differentiates AFMICO most from similar platforms is its “bite-sized information” format—concise, clear, and easy to read, free from unnecessary technical complexity. Even highly complex topics are simplified as much as possible. Moreover, AFMICO focuses exclusively on Africa’s mining sector; regions outside Africa or sectors outside mining are not included.
Finally, the daily news shared on AFMICO is compiled from eight reliable international sources and presented with our original commentary. This allows professionals who want to closely follow Africa’s mining sector to stay updated by following just one platform.
How do you assess AFMICO’s role in strengthening regional cooperation?
AFMICO has rapidly grown into a strong, comprehensive professional network that brings together all components of the mining ecosystem. This network includes decision-makers from mining companies, contractors, equipment manufacturers, logistics providers, investors, and academics. The fact that a single post on AFMICO’s LinkedIn page can reach thousands of people, and that the content on our website is regularly read by hundreds of professionals, clearly demonstrates the platform’s impact.
As a result, visibility for firms seeking to connect with Africa’s mining sector significantly increases, and direct communication between industry stakeholders becomes much stronger. In short, AFMICO has become a powerful communication and cooperation bridge uniting Africa’s mining professionals under one roof.
“Through AFMICO, Turkish Companies Can Reach Decision-Makers in Africa Directly”
What advantages does AFMICO offer Turkish companies looking to expand into Africa?
One of my long-term goals when launching AFMICO was to create a strong showcase for Turkish manufacturers and contractors in the African market. The African continent holds the world’s largest combined mineral reserves, creating vast and sustainable commercial opportunities in exploration, production, beneficiation, and logistics. If we consider this as a large “commercial pie,” Türkiye’s strong manufacturing capability, competitive cost structure, skilled workforce, geographical proximity, and the highly positive perception of Türkiye among African societies show that there is no barrier preventing Türkiye from gaining a large share of this pie.
At this point, AFMICO will play a critical role for Turkish companies in terms of visibility and recognition. Through AFMICO, Turkish firms can directly reach decision-makers in Africa’s mining ecosystem and showcase their capabilities to the right audience. I believe AFMICO will become a strong bridge supporting the growth of mining trade and cooperation between Türkiye and Africa.
What do you consider the most important mining development for Türkiye in Africa in 2026?
For me, the clear answer to this question is the Simandou Iron Ore Project. In the Simandou Mountain Range of southeastern Guinea, one of the world’s largest and highest-grade iron ore deposits (65% Fe) was discovered in 1997. However, due to infrastructure requirements, financing challenges, permitting processes, and political conditions, it took 28 years for the project to materialize. As of November 12, mining operations finally began, and on December 3, the first iron ore shipment from Simandou was made. At full capacity, Simandou aims to reach an extraordinary annual production of around 120 million tons.
Simandou is not only a mining project but also the centerpiece of Guinea’s long-term economic transformation under the “Simandou 2040” vision. This vision outlines a holistic development strategy, channeling the economic momentum created by high-grade iron ore production into rail and port infrastructure, energy investments, industrial plants, hospitals, education, and technology centers. The goal is to transform Guinea into a regional hub for logistics, industry, and investment by 2040.
“Türkiye Is One of the Rare Countries Able to Offer High-Quality Products at Accessible Costs”
Where does Türkiye stand in the China–West competition regarding the opportunities created by Simandou?
Geographically, Türkiye is situated between China and the West—and in terms of the emerging opportunities from Simandou, Türkiye holds that same strategic midpoint. This is a tremendous advantage. I would like to illustrate with an example from equipment procurement. Western drilling rigs offer top-level quality but come with the highest prices in the market. Chinese products, on the other hand, are significantly cheaper, yet despite notable progress, international markets still have reservations regarding quality and after-sales service.
The optimal balance between these two extremes is Türkiye. Türkiye is among the rare countries able to offer high-quality products at accessible costs. The general perception I frequently encounter in Africa is: “Turkish products are not as expensive as European or American products, but their quality is far above Chinese.” This perception alone provides Türkiye with a substantial advantage.
Another key advantage is Africans’ positive view of Türkiye and the Turkish people. In Africa, Turks are perceived as a nation with no colonial past, respectful of local cultures and values, coming not to exploit but to build and grow together. This creates quite a strong psychological advantage. Additionally, Türkiye’s presence in 44 African countries through embassies and consulates further strengthens diplomatic relations. Moreover, similarities in cultural values—hospitality, the importance of family ties, respect for religious values, and emotional openness—foster mutual connection and trust.
“The Simandou Project Is a Game-Changer for the Global Steel Industry”
How do you evaluate the impact of the Simandou Project on the global iron ore market?
With this massive project coming online, dependence on traditional producers such as Australia and Brazil is expected to partially decrease. At the same time, the growing global demand for “clean raw materials” in the steel industry will be supported by Simandou’s high-grade ore. This increase in high-quality iron ore supply may place downward pressure on global prices, reduce production costs for steelmakers, and accelerate the transition to low-carbon “green steel” technologies. For all these reasons, the Simandou Project is not only transformative for Africa but also a game-changer for the global steel industry.
“Simandou Offers Major Opportunities for Turkish Equipment Manufacturers”
What opportunities does a megaproject of this scale create for local Turkish equipment manufacturers?
A megaproject like Simandou brings significant opportunities for Turkish manufacturers. It requires not only mining operations but also exploration, open-pit mining, beneficiation, logistics, railway, port, and energy infrastructure. This translates into a wide range of equipment needs—and because Simandou is a long-term, high-capacity project, equipment demand will continue both during the initial investment phase and throughout ongoing operations. This means not only one-time sales for Turkish manufacturers but long-term supplier relationships.
In line with the advantages mentioned above, and with the support of Türkiye’s Commercial Counsellor in Guinea, Mr. Enes Akel, we have launched work on a project called the “Simandou Turkish Development Alliance (SITUDEAL).” This initiative aims to facilitate the supply of Turkish products and services within the Simandou 2040 vision. Our goal is to position Türkiye as one of the key contributors to Simandou’s development.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Our country needs a generation that never strays from the path of curiosity, research, inquiry—in essence, science—more than ever before. I would like to conclude by encouraging all citizens to keep learning persistently, keep improving themselves, and continue producing no matter what. I sincerely thank the SteelRadar family for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts.
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