Mining is the future

Menar Academy hosted its two day, third annual Mining Journalism Training last week on Thursday at the Sandton Convention Centre and on Friday it proceeded to Canyon Coal Mine in Bronkhostspruit.

The Chief Executive Officer of Menar, Vuslat Bayoglu opened the training by educating the attendees about sustainable mining as to how the media, communities and the mining companies can work together to ensure a good working relationship.

Dr Salimah Valiani, a Senior Independent Researcher gave a presentation on the past, present and future of mining. Taking the attendees back to 1930, she said land was contested as black people wanted to farm and they didn’t have the rights to buy land.

“Platinum is in former homelands and is the future of mining as it is SA’s largest supplier,” said Dr Valiani.

“Mining opens up social development, schools, hospitals and job opportunities for local communities,” said Jonathan Veeran, a specialist mining lawyer from Webber and Wentzel.

Veeran emphasised the importance of consulting with the members of the communities that live in a 15km radius of where a mine is located.

Bongani Motsa, senior economist at the Minerals Council of South Africa, made a call that South Africa has abundant coal underground and government should help in funding to mine this coal in order to create jobs.

“SA has R30 trillion worth of minerals and R6 trillion of that is coal, we need good policies and regulations,” said Motsa.

On the second day, the 20 attendants got to learn more about mining as they were taken on site to the Khanye Colliery.

Khanye Colliery is the third mine in Bronkhorspruit and it is owned by Canyon Coal. It is an open pit mine and the mining started in December 2017. The attendees got to see the moment the coal is mined and the various stages it goes through, from the washing of the coal until, it is transported to wherever it is being shipped.

 By Thobela Sibiya