Manufacturing and exports of mining and mineral equipment are a major part of South Africa’s economy. As the country is rich in mineral resources, its mining industry is flourishing. In 2023, at least 50% of the total African exports of mining and mineral machinery came from South Africa. However, despite its economic benefits, mineral mining remains a significant pollutant to the environment both in South Africa and on the entire continent. Greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation are some of the environmental challenges posed by the industry. In view of the increasing urgency to reduce environmental degradation, mining companies are coming under more and more pressure to integrate sustainable practices into their operations. However, the question remains as to whether environmentally friendly mining is possible at all.
This DevelopmentAid article considers the pollution the mining sector causes and explores several sustainable practices such as in-situ leaching (ISL) and bio-mining techniques, as well as renewable energy adoption, and waste reduction, based on the experience of South Africa.
Is sustainable mining possible?
The debate around ‘sustainable’ and ‘mining’ has been ongoing on for some time. Long story short: there is no easy answer to this question. While the extraction of finite resources from the earth cannot be truly sustainable, there are some practices that can contribute to improved industrial processes.
‘Sustainable mining’ involves the reduction of the adverse environmental, economic, and social effects of mining activities and limiting extraction in a way that does not undermine the needs of future generations. Sustainable mining focuses on the convergence between the three elements of economic growth, social equality, and environmental sustainability. A sustainable mining sector should therefore be healthy, safe, ethnically inclusive, socially responsible, eco-friendly, and accepted by the surrounding communities.
Let’s explore the example of South Africa.
South Africa’s mining sector GHG emissions and waste concerns
In South Africa, the mining sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions which pose a significant challenge to the environment. According to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the mining industry was responsible for 15% of the country’s total GHG emissions which have climbed to around 500 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The air pollution caused by the mining industry is accompanied by tailings which is the waste that results from extraction activities. The amount of waste derived from mining is massive and accounts for 72% of the total waste generated in the country.
See also: South Africa’s illegal mining crisis worsening due to poverty and unemployment
The tailings stretch over hundreds of square kilometers with the Witwatersrand gold fields being a prime example. Having extracted over 116,00 tons of gold and uranium from more than 120 mines have left a legacy of more than 270 tailings facilities covering approximately 400 square kilometers, according to the non-profit, MiningWatch Canada.
Which practices could make South Africa mining more sustainable?
In situ leaching and bio-mining
In situ leaching (ISL) and bio-mining are innovative mining practices that are capable of reducing the environmental footprint of traditional mining techniques. ISL involves extracting metals from ore bodies by injecting a leaching solution via boreholes. It is associated with minimizing surface disruption, decreasing energy consumption, and reducing the volume of waste produced compared to traditional mining practices.
Bio-mining is a sustainable mining practice that uses microorganisms to leach minerals from ores and offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional mining methods. Sustainable biomining is beneficial because it is environmentally resilient, cost-effective, and produces high revenues. In Barbeton, South Africa, bio-mining practice is acknowledged to be viable, with mining corporations such as Fairview utilizing this approach to extract gold while reducing energy and water usage.
Renewable energy in mining
The mining sector in South Africa has conventionally depended on fossil fuels to extract, process and operate. In efforts to reduce GHG emissions in the sector, corporations must invest in renewable energy solutions to facilitate their operations and reduce their carbon footprints. Since mining is South Africa’s most energy-intensive sector, it has the ability to propel the continent’s adoption of green energy to achieve lower GHG emissions. In their 2017 article, Votteler and Brent, who are both experts in industrial engineering, commented that “the use of renewable energy sources by mining corporations potentially reduces electricity costs, diversifies energy supply, decreases GHGs emissions, they are less impacted by fuel price volatility and show ‘green leadership”.
In South Africa, mining companies such as Pan African Resources are diversifying their renewable energy sources by increasing the amount of solar energy used to power their mines. Moreover, the International Energy Agency has confirmed that by using renewable energy, the mining sector can achieve a 16% decrease in energy-based emissions by 2030.
Wrap up
While South Africa’s mining industry is facing significant challenges in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation, adopting sustainable mining practices could balance economic growth and environmental sustainability. By using lower-impact mining technologies such as in-situ leaching and bio-mining, the impacts of mining activities on the environment and society could decline. By integrating renewable energy sources in mining processes and ensuring sustainable mining waste management, the sector can mitigate its carbon footprint and contribute to a greener future.
