Modern Mining February 2015

SUSTAINABILITY IN MINING

is important as, at the moment, we have a situ- ation where the methodologies and approaches adopted by community relations practitioners can differ quite markedly from one country to another – and indeed from one mining com- pany to another.” She adds, incidentally, that it is quite frus- trating when international mining companies fly in people from overseas – at great expense – to do training in Africa. “This is quite unnec- essary. We’re here and we can help. If overseas companies use our services, they’ll find we’re not only very effective but that we can also save them money,” she says. On future goals for the CSMI, Digby says the Centre will be looking to strengthen its African ‘footprint’. “Historically, most of our work has been done in South Africa but we’re increasingly interested in engaging with other organisations – including universities – in sub- Saharan African with a view to taking some of the work we’ve done and rolling it out more broadly,” she points out. “We need partners in Africa and this will be something we’re going to devote a lot of time to in the coming year.” Digby is also hoping to see the CSMI do more work on the complex issue of artisanal mining. “This is not an activity we can ignore,” she explains. “By some estimates, around 20 million people worldwide are engaged in infor- mal mining, which is many times the number employed in formal mining. It’s an issue that’s not going to go away and clearly mining compa- nies are going to have to engage with informal miners operating on or close to their properties, irrespective of whether their activities are legal or not. We’re planning a series of seminars this year to bring together interested parties to dis- cuss this whole issue and chart a way forward.” Finally, and on the future of mining in South

Africa, Digby makes the point that the indus- try is at the crossroads. “As with most things, there are a range of possible scenarios ranging from good to bad,” she says. “Essentially, we have a mining sector with many legacy issues which is in the process of transitioning into the 21st century. If it can manage this transition successfully – and this will depend to a large extent on achieving true sustainability in min- ing operations – then there is no reason why we cannot have a vibrant and prosperous mining sector 10, 20 or 30 years hence. If the industry fails to address the issue of sustainability effec- tively, then one can envisage a future where workers and communities increasingly adopt a confrontational approach to mining activi- ties and where more Marikanas are a distinct possibility. My impression is that the mining industry is starting to make the right choices and that the optimistic scenario is the more likely outcome.” Report by Arthur Tassell

A typical artisanal mining site in Africa (photo: SRK).

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February 2015  MODERN MINING  35