MINERAL POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Transcription

1 MINERAL POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MINERAL ECONOMICS AND STRATEGY Mintek s Mineral Economics and Strategy Unit (MESU) conducts regional commodity-based mineral economic studies to promote value addition and sustainable development through the minerals industry, both in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa. Regional Mineral Economics Strategic regional minerals scans are undertaken to highlight infrastructure requirements, advantages of ordered development and clustering of projects, preliminary economic analysis, and identify downstream and value added developmental opportunities from mineral-based projects. Two detailed scans investigated the mineral potentials of Limpopo and KwaZulu- Natal. The Limpopo scan will be used to develop a mineral strategy for the year. The KwaZulu-Natal project re-investigated the remaining coal mining potential for the province, reviewed the industrial minerals sector, Mintek also contributed to the strategy for sustainable development in mining, of development, indicators for and the development of guidelines for various aspects of the environmental operations. impacts of mining that could be exploited. A key feature of both projects was the use of GIS software that allowed for different scenarios to be evaluated. Interactive GIS-based datasets formed an integral part of the deliverables for these projects. MESU played a central role in studies of a number of iron and steel projects in southern Africa. MESU also acted as secretariat in Maputo Metallurgical Corridor Project, which investigated the potential to establish a steel complex in Maputo that would utilise magnetite resources from the Palabora Mining Company dumps. RESOURCE BASED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Resource Based Sustainable Development (RBSD) strategy has three principal themes. A capital equipment and services focus that supports Main Hand-sorting pic: magnesite ore small-scale at a the operation Limpopo in province. 37 annual report 2007

2 Pics to from bottom: top developing MESU is for a Limpopo strategy Province supporting for clustering industrial of industries. supplier Sustainable The Development continued (SD) unit with DME s the Development Sustainable Mining through programme. and With energy water increasingly becoming only scarce, in South not across Africa but African the these continent, prove major could constraints mining to new investments. programme The SD undertook also a study to the tour to engage EU with minerals the EU community, and metals including European the Commission. technology equipment and services solutions to mining customers around the globe. Encouraging the lateral migration of technology from the minerals sector to elsewhere in the economy. products, RBSD brings a perspective of opportunities for industrial, technological, and trade development upstream and side-stream to the mining industry. MESU is developing a strategy for Limpopo Province for supporting industrial clustering of supplier industries. The client in this project needs to develop a set of responses and incentives to create sustainable industries in some of its mining nodes to ensure that a manufacturing industrial cluster can be established that is able to outlive the mining sector. The project advice to industry and government on strategies to maximise economic linkages and growth. Economics Support MESU conducted various empirical analytical studies of mining commodities, and tracked and evaluated commodity prices cycles. A diagnostic approach was used to identify key challenges facing the sector and design appropriate responses. Models that predict and explain the current commodities booms were developed. MESU was represented at the G20 Energy and Resources Meeting in Banff, Canada. Sustainable Development Sustainable Development through Mining programme The Sustainable Development (SD) unit continued with the DME s Sustainable Development through Mining programme. One of the major projects completed was the development of an auditable checklist for programming into the Site Inspection Assistance tool being developed for DME for sustainable development in mining, and the development of guidelines for various aspects of the environmental impacts of mining operations. The SD unit is actively pursuing links with various local and international processing. The Unit started preliminary work on a project funded by the DST that investigates new technology mixes to conserve water during mining and processing. becoming increasingly scarce, not only in South Africa but across the African continent, these could prove major constraints to new mining investments. annual report

3 REACH At the beginning of 2006, MESU started investigating the impact of the European Union s (EU) REACH policy on South Africa s and Africa s mining industry. South African mineral exports into the EU were analysed in terms of REACH and other trade policies. The SD programme also undertook a study tour to the EU to engage with the EU minerals and metals community, including the European Commission. SMALL-SCALE MINING AND BENEFICIATION the artisanal and small-scale mining sector through researching and developing appropriate technologies, and by providing training and support to ensure that development can be as sustainable as possible, even when based on limited resources. A wood-fuelled pottery kiln was designed and commissioned for the potters at Mapuve village in Limpopo, under the project sponsored by resulting in a higher-quality, more durable product. A pilot plant was installed at the Lyttelton dolomite mine in Marble Hall trials, in which the product was compared with commercial fertiliser on a number of farms in the area, showed this material to be very successful at improving the growth of a variety of vegetables. These trials are continuing into and mill were set up in Giyani, Limpopo province, and tests on vegetable plots have started. Acidulation trials are being carried out to test the release of phosphorus from mixtures of A small igoli (mercury-free gold-recovery) plant was set up near Springs on the East Rand to recover gold from concentrates produced by a small-scale operator. A pilotsized plant has been commissioned at Mintek to demonstrate the process to potential users. A small group of artisanal miners from Tanzania were trained in the process, and a small igoli plant will be commissioned and an on-site demonstration will be conducted in Tanzania towards the end of Pics to bottom: from Top conducted MESU empirical various studies analytical mining sector of data as supply such and analysis demand commodities, and tracked commodity evaluated prices cycles. pottery A wood-fuelled designed kiln and was for commissioned at Mapuve the potters Limpopo, village in the project under the sponsored WF Kellogg by foundation. A mill crusher were set and up Limpopo in Giyani, and province, vegetable tests on have started. plots A (mercury-free small igoli plant gold-recovery) set up was Springs near the East on to recover Rand concentrates gold from a produced small-scale by operator. participated Mintek planning in the technical of for programme (World the CASM annualbank) Madagascar. conference in Mintek participated in the planning of the technical programme Mintek technology for the manufacture of glass has been transferred to groups of rural people in Limpopo, Kwa Zulu Natal, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. 39 annual report 2007

4 Pics top from bottom: to Almost learners 800 training received Mintek s at campus Randburg at satellite sites the country. around Women ters were pot- improve helped their to ing pottery-mak- skills to market and their at Letsopa goods, Artwork in and Pottery Timbita Bushbuckridge. in Other cialised specluded training craft in- work beads, (glass ellery, jew- pottery), and ameliorant soil brickmaking, production, mental and orna- carving. stone Three beadmaking glass- units set up, were Ulundi at Zulu-Natal, in Kwain Hazyview langa, Mpuma- the Cradle and kind of Human- Heritage World training Site, with equipment and supplied. A strategic marketing plan was formulated for the national and international craft market segments. A feasibility study was conducted to assess the potential of reviving the sandstone industry in Qwa-Qwa. Business and marketing plans were drawn up for a number of individual small-scale operations, and assistance given with sourcing funds. The MQA has continued Mintek s accreditation as a skills provider. During the period under review, 789 learners received training at Mintek s Randburg campus and at satellite sites around the country. The modules included an introduction to small-scale mining, legislation, exploration geology, mining survey, minerals processing, health and adding, and business skills and leadership. The commodities Other specialised training included craft work (glass beads, jewellery, and pottery), soil ameliorant production, brickmaking, and ornamental stone carving. Three glass-beadmaking units were set up, at Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal, Hazyview in with training and equipment supplied. Under the DME s sustainable development programme, work on training in ornamental stone processing using waste material from commercial dimension- were helped to improve their pottery-making skills and to market Bushbuckridge. The Timbita ceramics incubator based at Mintek is in the process of registering with the MAPPP-SETA, the industry Skills Education Training Authority (SETA) responsible for facilitating education and training in the media, advertising, publishing, printing and packaging sector, as a service provider for the Unit Standard: Craft Production, according to registered unit standards and nationally recognised new ceramic items to test the market. Timbita conducts tests on clays from different localities for their suitability for ceramics or brickmaking, and a clay database has been set up to record the geographical location of suitable deposits. received support from the following organisations: CASM (Communities and Small-Scale Mining); the DME; the DST; Eskom; the MQA; Marble Hall Municipality; the seda Technology Programme of the annual report

5 KGABANE JEWELLERY INITIATIVE The Kgabane jewellery training programme focuses on the manufacture of jewellery in South Africa, using indigenous skills and traditional designs. It also provides manufacturing and marketing support, as well as training, to poor rural and urban communities. Eight new jewellery workshops were set up at in Mpumalanga, Cape. The workshop at Mopumolo in KwaZulu-Natal is notable for at Steelpoort was funded by Xstrata as one of their social development initiatives surrounding the Project Lion ferrochromium-smelting joint venture. Eight existing workshops were upgraded during the year. A further seven new facilities two of which will be funded by mining companies as part of their social offsets programmes - and six upgrades, are planned for As part of a DME initiative, Kgabane facilitates a skills exchange programme with the People s Republic of China. Two teams totalling scheme to date. Mintek also facilitated a platinum casting exhibition, in conjunction with the DME and Lonmin Platinum, at the bi-annual Electra Mining exhibition in Johannesburg. Pics bottom: from top to jewellery The Kgabane programme training manufacture focuses on the in of South jewellery indigenous Africa, using skills traditional and designs. Swizzle designed sticks an African with theme. Crocheted handbags by the rural made African women. new A further workshop seven of facilities which will two be by funded companies mining part of their as programmes social offsets - upgrades, and six planned for are Mintek s Mineral Economics and Strategy Unit (MESU) conducts regional commoditybased mineral economic studies to promote value addition and sustainable development through the minerals industry, both in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa. 41 annual report 2007

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