Hard issue
Small-scale mining —
opportunities and challenges
A
rtisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a worldwide
phenomenon that is practiced predominantly in Africa,
Asia, and Latin America. It is estimated that 20–30 million
people are employed by the sector worldwide. ASM has been on the
rise in South Africa following the global trend.
There is no single definition for ASM; it varies from country to
country and for different developmental organisations. Artisanal
mining is part of the informal sector and is typically identified by
rudimentary mining techniques, a large labour force, and poverty.
In the case of small-scale mining, there may be some level of
mechanisation during both the mining and beneficiation stages of
the value chain.
Various laws have been implemented in countries, including
South Africa, to govern ASM. Although this is the case, it is
often practiced unlawfully. And this is evident by the galamsey
in Ghana, the chikorokoza in Zimbabwe, and the zama-zamas in
South Africa.
The Africa Mining Vision’s goal for ASM is “to create a mining
sector that harnesses the potential of artisanal and small-scale
mining to advance integrated and sustainable rural socio-economic
development.” There is hidden potential in this complicated sector.
ASM in South Africa: the challenges
A challenge for ASM in South Africa is the lack of understanding
the mining activities performed by artisanal and small-scale
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miners. Activities including mining methods, mineral extraction,
processing, and beneficiation have not been well documented.
Evidence-based research has not been used in ASM, making it
difficult to compare it to its commercial counterpart.
In South Africa, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources
Development Act of 2002 (MPRDA) regulates mining in general,
including ASM. Section 27 of the Act explains the application
for, issuing, and duration of a mining permit. Mining permits are
granted if the mineral in question can be mined optimally within
a period of two years and the mining area in question does not
exceed 1.5 hectares in extent.
Despite the presence of the MPRDA as a regulatory measure for
the ASM sector, it is still often practiced informally and illicitly.
According to the Minerals Council of South Africa fact sheet
of 2018, illegal mining in the country has an annual estimated
commercial value of R7-billion. This is a great loss to the economy.
The reason artisanal miners work illegally is caused by various push
and pull factors. First is the push factor of the socio-economic climate.
The socio-economic status of many individuals in South Africa, both
nationals and foreigners, drive them to look for other alternatives,
including that of informal employment. Secondly, the pull factor of
quick money. Many of the illegal miners are drawn in by the promise
of making large sums of money in a short amount of time, but it is
often a poverty trap. This is because illegal mining, as explained by the
Minerals Council of South Africa, is a cartel-based industry.
www.africanmining.co.za