32
MODERN MINING
February 2014
EVENTS
A
lthough the number of delegates
was a very respectable 7 250
– not too far below the record-
breaking figure of last year – the
‘buzz’ that one normally associ-
ates with the Mining Indaba was muted – at
least in the view of this writer. The main exhi-
bition area, however, was as crowded as ever.
Continuing a trend that has developed in re-
cent years, many of the exhibitors were equip-
ment suppliers and service providers to the
mining industry rather than the mining and
exploration companies who dominated in the
early years of the Indaba.
In terms of the conference side of the Indaba,
it is increasingly difficult for delegates – and
journalists – to attend the many excellent pre-
sentations on offer, given that there are so many
sessions, seminars and workshops running in
parallel. As always, however, there was an
excellent turnout for the opening address by
Susan Shabangu
, South Africa’s Minister of
Mineral Resources, who gave – as one would
expect – a highly positive view of South Africa’s
mining scene and of the achievements of her
department, mentioning the labour unrest cur-
rently afflicting the industry only in passing.
Outlining the positive effects of the post-
apartheid regulatory framework, she said this
had “unleashed the potent potential for the
mining industry of the future, transformed
ownership patterns, diversified mining, created
employment as well as ended the century-old
male domination of the industry. Furthermore,
the number of mines in operation has increased
exponentially, as well as the corresponding
revenue generated, while women mineworkers
grew from an insignificant number to 10 per
cent currently.”
Looking back on the ten-year history
of the
Mineral and Petroleum Resources
Development Act (MPRDA)
, she said the intro-
duction of the legislation in 2004 “took all of
us into uncharted territory” and added that the
revised MPRDA bill, currently being finalised
through parliamentary processes, would build
on the lessons learnt over the past decade. She
argued that it would “improve the ease of doing
business in the industry by, amongst others,
streamlining and integrating mining, environ-
mental and water authorisation processes” and
said the process committed government to “a
turnaround time of up to 300 days for a mining
right.” In addition, the new legislation would
The mood at this year’s Mining Indaba in Cape Town, the
20th in the series, was more downbeat than at most of its
predecessors, reflecting not only the global pullback in min-
ing but the dire circumstances in South Africa’s own mining
industry, where labour problems have savaged the plati-
nummining sector in particular.
Modern Mining’s
Arthur
Tassell attended the event and filed this report.
Susan Shabangu, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral
Resources, addresses delegates.
Delegates at the Mining
Indaba in Cape Town.
Numbers were slightly down
on last year’s event.
Subdued
INDABA
reflects mi
