• MINING INDABA
All images supplied by SRK Consulting
It is seldom disputed that mining is a powerful pioneer sector that can kick-start much needed economic diversification .
Just as mining has been buffeted by these forces , so too , communities around the continent have also been affected . These unsettled conditions confirm that a key goal for all stakeholders in Africa ’ s development is to foster community resilience , equipping vulnerable societies with a measure of protection or future-proofing against tomorrow ’ s unexpected challenges .
For all the recent challenges , it is heartening to witness how mining has endured ; it has in fact been given more tools with which to more effectively create positive social and economic benefits . There are two fields focussed on in this regard : energy and water .
Energy drive In the age of energy transition , Africa has one key advantage over the world ’ s developed economies . We need more energy generation than we have , so we are not trading off one source of energy for another . Rather , we can embrace any renewable sources which can deliver power at a competitive cost – and mines around Africa have not been slow to do that .
In South Africa alone , the mining sector is reported to have 7.5GW of renewable energy projects in various stages of development . This country provides a good example of what can be done with the right government facilitation , as this surge in capacity was almost impossible until relatively recently . The legal regime in power generation enacted in 1922 effectively cut out private sector involvement , and when this was eased a few years ago , the mining sector moved quickly to harness renewable energy .
The ‘ small energy ’ revolution This demonstrated a few things : firstly , how difficult it is to coordinate ‘ grand scheme ’ projects , despite them being potentially game-changing for everyone ; and secondly , how effective government can be when it simply facilitates or incentivises action by a large number of independent and smaller players .
For instance , the prospect of a large hydro-electric scheme that could serve many countries with clean energy is appealing for all the right reasons . However , such projects carry an enormous weight of complexity and coordination , requiring considerable and sustained commitment by many interested parties . Sometimes the inertia is too much , and the wait is too long .
Jang ' ombe community meeting working through a local Swahili speaking community facilitator .
By contrast , individual companies – even households – are relatively agile in their response to opportunities that serve their needs , and can dedicate resources relatively quickly and efficiently . Where there is sufficient common interest , each of these contributions can add up to an unprecedented groundswell . This is what has happened
22 • African Mining • January 2025 www . africanmining . co . za