South Africa Aims for Green Mining Code
Date: 18-Nov-05
Country: SOUTH AFRICA
Virtually all mining firms in South Africa -- the world's largest producer of gold and platinum -- strive to ensure their operations are "sustainable", but each has its own set of targets.
"We hope that this programme will result a single framework for responsible mining that is accepted by all stakeholders. If this goal is achieved it will avoid the costs and confusion associated with the current proliferation of such frameworks globally," said Zoli Diliza, chief executive of the chamber, an umbrella organisation representing mining companies.
An agreement would provide a legally-based governance arrangement, he said in a statement.
"Many say that mining and sustainable development contradict each other. As the industry we are committed to show that we can mine with sustained care for people and the environment," Diliza added.
The programme is part of South Africa's wider attempts to meet its 2010 commitments agreed at the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.
One of the specific targets of the sustainable mining programme is to address the issue of shut mines that might be polluting the environment.
"The programme aims to identify and prioritise derelict and ownerless mines for rehabilitation," said Elize Swart of the Department of Minerals and Energy in a separate statement.
