The Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP), with the support of the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI’s) Circular Innovation South Africa fund, launched the South African Circular Minerals and Metals Initiative (SACMMI), on April 11.

“The aim of the initiative is to support the mining sector in fast-tracking the uptake of circular interventions through science, technology and innovation,” says MMP director Julie Courtnage.

The SACMMI aims to give effect to one of the themes of government’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Decadal Plan (2022-2032) – the DSI’s ten-year strategy to develop and further research and develop innovation endeavours, meet “grand” societal challenges, and develop sectors reliant on science and innovation – for the development of new STI in South Africa.

The plan will support the uptake of greater circularity and sustainable resource use in the South African mining sector, particularly as minerals are non-renewable resources, while contributing nearly 8% of South Africa’s gross domestic product.

Courtnage adds that the SACMMI is the first of three initiatives under the Decadal Plan themes – agriculture, manufacturing and mining – and that the MMP is proud to host the first such initiative.

The Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP), with the support of the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI’s) Circular Innovation South Africa fund, launched the South African Circular Minerals and Metals Initiative (SACMMI), on April 11.

“The aim of the initiative is to support the mining sector in fast-tracking the uptake of circular interventions through science, technology and innovation,” says MMP director Julie Courtnage.

The SACMMI aims to give effect to one of the themes of government’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Decadal Plan (2022-2032) – the DSI’s ten-year strategy to develop and further research and develop innovation endeavours, meet “grand” societal challenges, and develop sectors reliant on science and innovation – for the development of new STI in South Africa.

The plan will support the uptake of greater circularity and sustainable resource use in the South African mining sector, particularly as minerals are non-renewable resources, while contributing nearly 8% of South Africa’s gross domestic product.

Courtnage adds that the SACMMI is the first of three initiatives under the Decadal Plan themes – agriculture, manufacturing and mining – and that the MMP is proud to host the first such initiative.

The initiative will drive coordinated research to deliver increased value from minerals extraction.

“The circular economy has found considerable traction with business and government over the past few years as a way of sustainably managing resources, reducing costs and improving global competitiveness,” stresses Courtnage, adding that the initiative will address key environmental, social and governance (ESG) imperatives, which are expected to become more pressing in the future.

She points out that mining has traditionally been excluded from circular economy considerations because of its being an extractive practice.

The SACMMI also intends to investigate and understand how circularity can be achieved with respect to accessing mineral resources, as well as during the extraction process and after extraction processes and practices. This includes investigating how mining and beneficiation operations can reduce overall resource consumption, while facilitating improved value addition, locally.

Courtnage emphasises that the SACMMI initiative will help the minerals sector move towards genuine sustainability, which will consequently promote sustainable mining, and the associated social and economic benefits of an efficient industry.

“The MMP comprises a small, dedicated team of highly specialised experts who collectively manage a range of research programmes for the benefit of South Africans, with the long-term goal of expanding that benefit into Africa, and possibly even beyond,” says Courtnage.

She tells Mining Weekly that the MMP is reimagining its strategy.

At this stage, the core programmes remain the focus while the MMP is exploring various strategic initiatives pertaining to broad challenges facing the minerals sector.

“These include water, decarbonisation, energy, the critical minerals agenda and circularity,” she stresses.

These strategic initiatives, which are mostly related to ESG goals, will be pursued in close collaboration with some of the MMP’s research partners, she says.

Meanwhile, Courtnage says, “the presidential STI plenary has already assisted in the elevation of the MMP profile, which inevitably will support its potential impact – the true measure of our success”.

The MMP has noted an increase in its stakeholder engagements resulting from this higher profile and intends to create even more awareness through its new visibility plan, where it will match stakeholder needs to its engagement strategy, she concludes.

The initiative will drive coordinated research to deliver increased value from minerals extraction.

“The circular economy has found considerable traction with business and government over the past few years as a way of sustainably managing resources, reducing costs and improving global competitiveness,” stresses Courtnage, adding that the initiative will address key environmental, social and governance (ESG) imperatives, which are expected to become more pressing in the future.

She points out that mining has traditionally been excluded from circular economy considerations because of its being an extractive practice.

The SACMMI also intends to investigate and understand how circularity can be achieved with respect to accessing mineral resources, as well as during the extraction process and after extraction processes and practices. This includes investigating how mining and beneficiation operations can reduce overall resource consumption, while facilitating improved value addition, locally.

Courtnage emphasises that the SACMMI initiative will help the minerals sector move towards genuine sustainability, which will consequently promote sustainable mining, and the associated social and economic benefits of an efficient industry.

“The MMP comprises a small, dedicated team of highly specialised experts who collectively manage a range of research programmes for the benefit of South Africans, with the long-term goal of expanding that benefit into Africa, and possibly even beyond,” says Courtnage.

She tells Mining Weekly that the MMP is reimagining its strategy.

At this stage, the core programmes remain the focus while the MMP is exploring various strategic initiatives pertaining to broad challenges facing the minerals sector.

“These include water, decarbonisation, energy, the critical minerals agenda and circularity,” she stresses.

These strategic initiatives, which are mostly related to ESG goals, will be pursued in close collaboration with some of the MMP’s research partners, she says.

Meanwhile, Courtnage says, “the presidential STI plenary has already assisted in the elevation of the MMP profile, which inevitably will support its potential impact – the true measure of our success”.

The MMP has noted an increase in its stakeholder engagements resulting from this higher profile and intends to create even more awareness through its new visibility plan, where it will match stakeholder needs to its engagement strategy, she concludes.