Amid an industry-wide shift towards more sustainable mining practices, engineering consultancy SRK Consulting says that the significance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in mining has evolved over the past few decades from basic monitoring, to now include a wide range of complex aspects such as biodiversity preservation and water stewardship.
The firm’s guidance, through increasingly complex regulatory and environmental landscapes, has enabled it to provide services in mining, hydrology, geology and environmental and social sciences, which MD Andrew van Zyl says “indicates a trend towards the interconnectedness of these disciplines”.
SRK Consulting's approach has notably adapted to these evolving needs, incorporating these new factors into the core of its technical decision-making processes, thereby reflecting a broader contextual awareness within the industry, he adds.
“Understanding and integrating ESG factors into our projects is no longer optional, but a critical component of modern mining practice. This shift reflects a broader trend towards sustainable development within the global mining industry,” he tells Mining Weekly.
Read the full article on Engineering News.
