The mining industry, which has a past of intervening with key technologies at critical times, is currently at an important leverage point that requires disruptive change.
That South Africa’s deep precious metals mining methods have to change, is now being spoken from the rooftops.
If there is no substantial change in the mining methods used in South Africa, gold and platinum mining could cease in 2033 and 2029, respectively, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Natural Resources and Environment executive director Mavis Ann ‘May’ Hermanus warned on Wednesday.
The Chamber of Mines of South Africa and The Innovation Hub, a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), have signed an historic Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to jointly further advance orebody knowledge and understanding in the region.
A new memorandum of agreement between the Chamber of Mines (CoM) and The Innovation Hub will see the launch of a challenge to advance the knowledge and understanding of Gauteng’s orebody.
While the modernisation of South Africa’s gold and platinum mines will be a major boost to the South African economy, failure to modernise will put a huge number of jobs at risk.