South Africa's mining industry will not be sustainable without exploration and the country must effectively incentivise exploration and remove barriers that hinder greater exploration.

South Africa published its exploration strategy – aimed at attracting 5% of global exploration spend – five years ago, law firm ENS Africa Natural Resources and Environment senior associate Zinzi Lawrence pointed out during the Junior Mining Indaba, on May 28.

“If we say we want to incentivise exploration, then we must not put in place rules that disincentivise it. An example is government officials stating that a company applying for an exploration licence does not need empowerment, only for the company to receive a letter stating that it does require it.

“Exploration is the gateway to sustainability in the mining industry. It is time to stop pushing 'paper empowerment' at the expense of exploration,” she averred.

Platinum group metals producer Impala Platinum Rustenburg Mining GM Nonkululeko Mosikare noted that the Shaft 16 operation, where she and 6 000 others were working, was being sunk during a visit to the mine in her second year of studies, with first blasting having taken place in 2013.

“If this work had not been done, then I and my colleagues would not be working on it now. And, for big, small or junior miners, pursuing continuous exploration is important and incentives and policies must enable big and small players in the industry to do this work.

“[Exploration] is not cheap. Billions have been spent on Shaft 16 to get it where it is now. Plans to extend the mine are in place and money must applied for this,” she said.

Further, it was sinking money into the ground during times of high price peaks that would see mines through troughs, such as by opening up enough of the orebody to be sustainable and thereby avoiding placing mines into care and maintenance, she noted.

Additionally, the skills cultivated within the industry contributed to its sustainability, including by ensuring skilled people were available to run the operations, effectively engaged with communities, ensured enough exploration was being done and explored technologies to advance the industry at large, Mosikare said.

Ethical leadership in the industry could be a constant within the changing and cyclical environment, and leaders with a deep moral foundation could more effectively navigate companies through the ups and downs, said energy and chemicals company Sasol underground manager Mahlogonolo Mashile.

“Ethics are fundamental to the sustainability and survival of the industry, including keeping commitments to communities, ensuring effective environmental stewardship and minimising potential corruption that would undermine the projects' sustainability,” she added.

Additionally, junior miners were born from the journey of exploration and, for the future of mining in South Africa, the country needed to tap into critical minerals, making exploration critical, she added.

Further, ethical leadership and authentic engagement with communities – taking them along from exploration to closure – were critical to mining sustainability, said Mosikare.

By taking along communities and the youth today and aligning development of skills with the mine's needs in the future, any attempt to disrupt the mine would have to convince a community that was invested in the mine producing.

“Investments in initiatives that empower not only a few elites but the community at large will ensure they have their own incomes and abilities to provide for their families and that the mine is an integral part of the ecosystem of the community.

“My perimeter fence is someone's backyard; mines and their communities are not always remote,” she noted.

Lawrence emphasised that mines must go beyond minimum requirements and take communities with them throughout the journey of the project, and explain what is being done.

Mapping of stakeholders engaged was also important, as communities were sophisticated, and not only the elders needed to be engaged, but the youth as well as they would also be present for the duration of the project, she recommended.

“Mining is a cornerstone industry. Let's give it the importance it deserves and pay attention to what can be fixed. We do not want to be a generation that only does rehabilitation and mine closures, but want to mine sustainably so that future generations can rely on mining.

“We should regularise our laws, ensure stakeholders are suitably engaged and identify who they are, and ensure that we take care of the environment to ensure the sustainability of mining in South Africa,” she advised.

Ethical mining could be a potential competitive advantage for South African miners, Mashile added.