Let's work together, then we can mine

Minerals & Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe. Photo: Twitter

This was the message from the Minister of Minerals Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, in his first public appearance in his new dual role. He was speaking at the Junior Mining Indaba in Johannesburg that took place recently.

“Regardless whether we like each other or not, we cannot walk away from each other. We have to be patient with each other.

“Mining has always been a leading sector in the country, and we need to continue to strive to increase its contribution to GDP, economy and creating of jobs.”

Coal vs renewables

Addressing the junior mining sector, he said that the current Mining Charter is much more friendly to junior miners, citing no ownership percentages for exploration as an example. “I urge junior miners to pool their resources and build their competitive edge in this way. Bigger businesses benefit from economies of scale and smaller business can also do this by working together.”

He encouraged junior miners, many of whom are in the coal sector, to find solutions for clean technologies.

He also said this is not a debate about coal vs renewables. “It is not about killing coal but rather promoting the various technologies at our disposal to find a combination and coexistence of options that solve the country’s energy issues.”

This is not a political debate, but one that needs to be constructive to ensure energy supply security.

Answering questions after his speech, the minister reiterated that the challenge facing all stakeholders is to make mining work. “Then we can do what we do best: mining. We need to set aside court cases and get on with it. If the Minerals Council South Africa has an issue.

“South Africans need to appreciate that transformation as much as any other discipline needs to be managed. Transformation must be treated as a business imperative and once people understand that then we will all work together.