MINING INDABA •
Jordaan highlighted that it will be an ongoing process to find effective solutions between mining companies and artisanal miners , but that engagement was the right starting point . Mines were increasingly pressurised by the principles of responsible sourcing to ensure ethical supply chains . At the same time , governments and other industry organisations promoting good practice and higher standards were making important contributions towards finding collaboration models that work .
The environmental issues that relate to artisanal mining remain a concern for mines and government .
“ Mines also face the problem of having artisanal activity on land that they have mined and then rehabilitated at considerable cost ,” she said . “ The informal mining then disrupts the natural recovery of the area and creates additional liabilities for the company or government .”
ESG will remain core to business for 2024 While issues such as artisanal mining and responsible sourcing in the mining sector reflect significant shifts in thinking and strategy , the essential direction of movement toward good mining practice is relatively constant and will continue strongly into 2024 .
This insight from SRK Consulting managing director Andrew van Zyl is based on almost 50 years of the company ’ s experience in mining , during which time there has been considerable evolution of practice across all disciplines .
“ In this sense , mining is always being positively disrupted by advances in expertise , approach and technology – albeit usually at a gradual pace ,” said Van Zyl . “ Importantly , there have been many changes across an ever-wider spectrum of professional fields , as we bring more disciplines to bear on our central goal of responsible and efficient mining .”
The purely technical focus in areas such as engineering , mining and processing has evolved into a broader understanding of how mining fits into society and community , he explained . This has led to the integration of disciplines relating to environmental and social science , for instance , which now make an essential contribution to the way that mines are planned and operated .
Key markets for minerals are now insisting on responsible sourcing and ethical supply chains for their products . The outlook for 2024 would undoubtedly see continued integration of environmental , social and governance ( ESG ) priorities into mining operations
Industry organisations promoting good practice and higher standards are making important contributions towards finding collaboration models that work .
– from human rights and artisanal mining to decarbonisation and supply chain localisation .
“ Over the past five decades , SRK has seen how our mining clients ’ needs and priorities have shifted , and we have responded by expanding our mining-related expertise by drawing on additional disciplines ,” he said . “ This has also demanded harnessing and developing digital technologies to gather and analyse big data – which we promote through our Data Science group .”
Andrew van Zyl , director and principal consultant at SRK Consulting .
An example of the company ’ s early foresight was the embracing of social responsibility in mining . As early as 1995 , it was employing its first social and developmental specialist , who went on to become a partner of the firm and help guide strategy and focus . This appointment was fully supported by SRK ’ s founder members , who encouraged this direction long before it found its way into legal conformance requirements .
“ This led to SRK developing leading expertise in vital services like social assessment and stakeholder engagement ,” said Van Zyl . “ We continue to focus on integrated solutions that contribute to resilience . True resilience requires cost competitiveness in the context of an external environment that requires sustainable environmental and social practices .” •
www . africanmining . co . za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • January 2024 • 27