OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF MINING ON THE ... - IIED pubs

operations. This has proceeded in tandem with a mounting awareness that modern society is completely reliant
on minerals and the goods and services acquired from and/or with minerals. The process has been
accompanied by new and progressive developments in regional and international legislation that seek to
balance the costs of environmental impacts to society against the benefits derived so as to ensure greater
equity for all beneficiaries and stakeholders.
Most miners are fully aware that it makes good business sense to prevent unnecessary impacts and that
efficient management of their mining operations will help to maintain costs at low levels. In achieving a balance
between the need to minimize impacts on the environment, enhance the wider social benefits of mining, and
maintain shareholder confidence in their investments, the mining sector as a whole has had to collaborate
progressively more closely. This has helped to develop a wider acceptance of mining amongst society in
general and has allowed mine operators the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable
development principles. Some examples of current and proposed management approaches in the mining
sector as a whole are listed below.
6.2.1 Improved and harmonized legislation
In the past, mining has been subject to legislation that contained conflicting principles, policies and requirements
and was passed by several different government departments. This made it extremely difficult for mine
operators to comply fully with legislation and exposed them to unnecessary legal problems. Recent
developments include:
• In each southern African country, greater attention is being paid to harmonizing different pieces of
legislation that control or affect mining activities and their consequences in an effort to eliminate
inconsistencies and unnecessary duplication of effort. This activity is being extended beyond national
borders in an effort to ensure that the different pieces of legislation in each SADC country are aligned and
congruent with one another.
• The new draft Minerals Bill in South Africa represents a fundamentally new way of approaching the whole
issue of mineral rights and the responsibilities of the different parties involved in mineral exploitation
activities. Government is consulting with all stakeholders in the process of developing specific clauses in
the new Minerals Bill.
• In South Africa, the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs is in the process of revising and updating the
Aide Mémoire for environmental management programmes on mines. This will facilitate prevention of
environmental impacts (particularly those on the water environment) and assist mine management to
undertake targeted remedial actions where these are required.
6.2.2 Improved stakeholder participation in decision-making
cccxliv