Dune mining should be a win-win

THERE is no reason for there to be any war over mining north of the frontal dune systems.

Local communities understand that their tribal lands hold valuable resources and they want their share of profits when mined.

Let’s not forget the mine wants the minerals as it’s the cheaper option rather than develop a new mining operation southwards.

The infighting as to compensation in the past and the future will continue until a broad consensus between the communities and the mine is reached.

A way forward could be the following:

The Mining Charter clearly states that it is the responsibility of the mining company to extract and beneficiate resources to the best of its ability and create jobs, returning the mined-out area through rehabilitation to as near as is possible to the same contours and fauna and flora as before.

There is no doubt whatever that the mine has rehabilitated, and done this to the best of its ability and to world standards.

There is a question, however, as to the efficiency of past mining methods that were used which may have left millions of tons of ‘saleable’ minerals behind, either as pond bottom losses or areas close to the sea where the dredge mining could not access.

When a mine starts it always mines the richest ore body first to pay off capital invested as quickly as possible.

It so happens that it’s normal that mining methods used on mine start-up are inefficient and underdeveloped due to the fact that one must mine as fast as possible to produce the required minerals and accept that minerals will in fact, be left behind while chasing the dollars.

It’s quite feasible that in the early stages of mining (1978 to 1995) up to 30% of the ore body was left behind.

The question is: can it be proved ie what has actually been left behind, the answer is ‘yes’

Can it be mined, in certain areas. The impact would be to extend the life of the mine considerably (good for everybody) - with more jobs etc.

Who will benefit from the remining?

This will be the wider community where mining has taken place plus those areas where, due to environmental pressure, it should not be allowed.

This can be developed, possibly for tourism leaving the dunes intact and protected.

What I am driving at is that before there is any war let’s take stock, and get the communities together to agree to a win-win strategy going forward.

Commission a sample drilling campaign to prove what has been left behind by past mining.

From the above decide where mining is economically viable.

Added to the above, thousands of tons of scrap metal were dumped into ponds as mining progressed this high chrome iron would also be exposed if dry mining methods were used to recover the minerals left behind.

I could go on, but I hope the above gives food for thought and not for war.

A local expert in the mining field has responded to a ZO article warning of looming conflict ahead of plans to mine in the Sokhulu area, and gives his opinion on the way forward