Envoy urges common strategies for PH, South African mining

BAGUIO CITY: South African Ambassador to the Philippines Bartinah Ntonbizodwa Radede-Ntchitenzhe over the weekend cited similar issues affecting mining in her country and the Philippines that she said warrant implementation of common strategies to sustain the vibrance of the sector that will spur economic growth of both mineral-rich nations.

Ntchitenzhe, the guest of honor and speaker during the 68th Annual Mine Safety and Environment Conference held at the CAP Cultural and Trade Center in Camp John Hay, informed more than 1,000 mining professionals who attended the meeting that mining is one of South Africa’s major economic drivers, having contributed double digits to the nation’s gross domestic product.

Moreover, she said, turnover of production saw an increase of more than eight percent during the first semester this year compared to the same period in 2021.

The ambassador noted that this jump had been achieved under the Covid-19 pandemic.

Like the Philippines, she said, South Africa deals with several social, environmental and political issues besetting the mining industry, but added that the government is instituting measures to address these and help sustain the growth of the sector.

Ntchitenzhe said small-scale mining is also a major concern of the South African government as it is of the Philippines.

She also said her government addresses the issue by regulating operations of small-scale miners so that the income will accrue to coffers of the State that will be used to provide basic services to the people.

According to the ambassador, South Africa is inviting foreign investors to infuse needed capital to put up local mines in strategic parts of South Africa to help sustain the country’s economic growth.

Among the minerals that are being mined in South Africa are platinum, diamond, gold, coal, manganese, lithium and uranium.

On efforts to preserve and protect South Africa’s environment, she said the government and the mining companies are doing their best to ensure that impacts of climate change will be effectively and efficiently mitigated through community-based environmental preservation and protection endeavors in partnership with communities.

Ntchitenzhe disclosed that mine-related fatalities in her country decreased by 39 percent also during the first semester of this year compared to the number during the same period last year.

She, however, said most of the reported deaths resulted from illegal mining activities that prompted the government to implement stringent regulations against the practices.

The ambassador pointed out that South Africa advocates for responsible mining among mining companies operating in her country in order to sustain the contribution of the sector to the overall growth and development of the nation.