Green Economy Journal Issue 62

MINING
MINING
PUTTING HEADS
TOGETHER
to solve
mining headaches
A JUST ENERGY TRANSITION
Dr Nandi Malumbazo, a senior lecturer at the Wits School of Chemical
and Metallurgical Engineering, stressed the disparity in critical mineral
identification among nations. “China recognises over 80 minerals
critical to its economic development, while the UK identifies 34,”
said Dr Malumbazo. “In contrast, South Africa is lagging in defining
critical minerals based on its industrialisation efforts.”
Sietse van der Woude, Minerals Council of South Africa, emphasised
that coal was identified as a critical mineral in ensuring energy
security and addressing energy poverty in Africa. “The question is
now, what does that mean for coal?” asked Van der Woude. “Does it
mean that all coal mining companies will have to sell their coal to
the power utility at a much lower price than international prices? Or
does it mean that we now are going to ban all coal exports because
it’s now a critical mineral?”
Both Van der Woude and Malumbazo highlighted that defining
critical minerals had to revolve around growing the local economy
and creating jobs. Malumbazo added that while many African
countries, including South Africa, were primarily involved in mining
critical minerals, they still lacked downstream value addition. “These
nations need to integrate into the downstream segment of the critical
minerals value chain, as it is pivotal for economic growth,” she said.
Van der Woude advised this needed a closer look. “Instead of
universally mandating beneficiation, we need to analyse each mineral
and its value chain individually,” he added.
Precious metals refinery at Sibanye-Stillwater.
Building on the new focus areas of research at its DigiMine Laboratory, the Wits Mining Institute
brought together industry experts at its annual seminar which delved into crucial topics shaping
the future of mining, such as integrating critical raw minerals for the transition, the evolving
landscape of circular mining and minerals as well as the growing need for waterless mining.
WATERLESS MINING TECHNIQUES
South Africa’s mining industry is undertaking a transformative
approach to its water usage, including advanced water recycling
and sustainable dust suppression. Implats corporate water specialist
Murendeni Makhado explained that waterless mining initiatives aim
to create closed-loop systems where water is continuously reused
and recycled. “This reduces the draw from external freshwater
sources,” said Makhado.
Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg.
Anglo American
CIRCULAR MINING
“Our innovative approaches, such as using recycled water and
transitioning to solar power, not only reduce our carbon footprint
but also enhance operational efficiency and financial viability,”
said DRD Gold CEO, Niel Pretorius. “Repurposing redundant mine
infrastructure and tailings has allowed us to restore the environment
and positively impact nearby communities, ensuring a sustainable
legacy for future generations.” DRG Gold has become a waste-neutral
enterprise, mitigating environmental impact while generating
substantial economic and social benefits.
One of the key opportunities he underlined was the extraction
of value from previously deemed unrecoverable low-grade ores.
“Through optimising processes, leveraging economies of scale and
deploying cutting-edge technology we have been able to mine and
rehabilitate several operations, including tailings dams.”
University of Cape Town professor, Jenny Broadhurst, noted that
governments and policymakers play a pivotal role in incentivising
circular mining practices and creating supportive regulatory
frameworks. “One of the key barriers to these circularity efforts is
the existing legislation and regulation. Although there are policies
at a higher level that should support these initiatives, the reality is
often the opposite.”
She also highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts between
industry and regulators at both local and national levels. “The burden
should not solely fall on governments; mining companies must work
with regulators and local governments to create an environment
where circularity is not just encouraged but enabled.”
Mzwandile Buthelezi, group head at Implats and chair of the WMI
Industrial Advisory Board, highlighted the importance of traceability of
materials, a concept gaining traction among investors. He noted that
mining companies are working together to define the best methods
for material traceability – to establish transparency in the supply
chain. This collaborative approach signifies a shift toward openness
and accountability, as the industry strives to share information openly
with communities and investors.
Klipfontein open-cast mine, Sibanye-Stillwater.
The power module is lifted into the hydrogen heavy-haul electric truck being assembled at Anglo American Mogalakwena PGMs mine in South Africa.
22 23