Sustaining South African mining

South Africa’s mining industry has always been committed to sustainable development by balancing development with environmental considerations. The industry’s participation in both national and international environmental forums shows that it wants to preserve our natural resources while serving the well-being of South Africans.

Although it is a developing country, South Africa shares environmental problems associated with the developed world, including pollution, waste, depletion of natural resources and the degradation of fragile eco-zones. The impact of development on the environment is not limited to borders. Therefore, co-operation among nations is required in order to devise strategies that will ensure minimal impact on the environment.

International co-operation in the environmental field is growing, and several multilateral agreements have played a role in tackling environmental challenges. In an effort aimed at promoting greater awareness and co-operation among all sectors of society, the South African Chamber of Mines will host a conference on environmentally responsible mining. The event is scheduled for Sept. 25-28 in Muldersdrift, near Johannesburg.

The conference will provide people in the mining industry, along with other stakeholders, an opportunity to share information and discuss ongoing environmental progress.

The meeting is expected to result in a commitment to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. However, sustainable development can only be achieved when it is balanced with other developmental concerns, including effective resource management and better wages and working conditions.

South Africa’s mining industry has always pursued a balance among the three pillars of sustainable development: social equity, environmental conservation, and economic development. Additionally, it subscribes to a policy that seeks to balance development of mineral resources with the need to minimize the impact of mining on the environment.

At a national level, the Chamber of Mines participates in various forums and contributes to legislative and policy developments, while internationally it plays a key role in the London-based Global Mining Initiative. The purpose of the conference is to develop a sustainable development model to provide global leadership for the mining and metals industry.

The major focus of the meeting will be analysis of an international study titled Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development, commissioned by the Swiss-based World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Sustainable development provides the best framework for understanding how social, economic and environmental factors combine to shape the future of our planet. It also provides a guide for addressing the challenges faced by the mining and metals industry and for meeting the expectations of a changing world.

— The preceding is from an information bulletin published by the Johannesburg-based South African Chamber of Mines.