While many African countries benefit from mining’s growth, there remain concerns about communities adjacent to mines facing risks to their groundwater or surface water supply and resources, casting a spotlight on mines’ water stewardship responsibilities.
“Africa’s world-class copper belt, for instance, holds great potential for the future, and mining development there needs to manage its water issues carefully,” said Ismail Mahomed, partner and principal hydrogeologist at SRK Consulting.
Mine dewatering is among the many facets that raise this risk, especially in regions of low rainfall like southern and northern Africa. Contamination of water resources continues to pose a potential liability and risk for any mining operation, said Mahomed, particularly as the bar is steadily raised so that the objective of leaving a safe environment behind on mine closure is achieved.
“It is clearly understood today that closure planning needs to start from day one,” he said. “There is no longer tolerance for the kind of contamination caused historically by mining.”
There is also a growing concern in metals markets about ethical and sustainable supply chains in mining. He points to mining companies in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where copper and cobalt mining is ramping up to meet the demands of a lower carbon future. Industry benchmarks such as the Copper Mark have become essential for mining companies that understand current trends in customer expectations.
Read the full article on Zambian Mining News.
