Holistic solutions that consider closure, social environmental and technical best practices will be important for the sustainability and longevity of the African mining industry, say independent consulting engineers and scientists SRK Consulting.
SRK senior social scientist Jessica Edwards says many mines in Africa continue to neglect the importance of meaningful engagements with communities, adding that, while there is often a one-way flow of information from the mine, there is not enough collaboration.
“Social transition – assessing and addressing the social impacts of mine closure – is also not sufficiently recognised as a priority area that has its own best-practice standards,” says Edwards.
Further, she notes that, while the new International Council on Mining and Metals guidelines include a more integrated approach to mine closure, “much remains to be done and it is an area of development”.
SRK Contributors:
Jessica Edwards, Lisl Fair, Andrew van Zyl, Marcin Wertz
Read the full article in Mining Weekly
