South Africa
It goes without saying the greatest challenge facing the mining industry in 2020 just like society was the pandemic through impact of the pandemic is yet to be seen. Another challenge facing the mineral industry in South Africa which unfortunately is not new is that we need to balance the competing interest of the stakeholders in the minerals industry - interest of government, communities and companies or shareholders. This imbalance has manifested itself in many legal challenges that are pending or before the court – and some recent decision which have huge implications for the mining companies.
A further challenge facing the minerals industry, which too is not new is the ongoing blackouts which affect mineral processings, smelters and refineries. Without electricity or alternative sources of energy those can’t be run optimally.
Like everything in life – where there is a challenge there is an opportunity – the pandemic has presented the minerals industry with an opportunity to accelerate their mechanisation programmes and such mechanization will hopefully deliver to the long-standing objective of zero harm and result in reskilling of employees. In respect of energy security there has been some movement in amending the electricity regulations to allow some degree of self-generation and this degree of self-generation can be utilised by the mining houses. It must be said though that although regulations have been amended the amendments aren’t comprehensive – one would have to carefully analyse the regulatory regime in deciding on how to go about self-generation.
Uganda
Zambia