Modern Mining February 2019

EVENTS

Positive mood pervades Mining Indaba 2019 Last year’s Mining Indaba took place at a time when South Africa’s formal mining industry was in a state of open conflict with the then Minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane, whose keynote address at the event received a lukewarm reception. The situation was much changed this year, with Zwane’s successor, Gwede Mantashe, receiving a warmwelcome from delegates. An even warmer welcome was given to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who told his audience that mining in South Africa was a sunrise industry.

W hile the Mining Indaba gen- erally has high-level del- egations in attendance from governments around Africa, these delegations rarely in- clude heads of state. This year, however, there were two national presidents at the event, with Ramaphosa sharing the spotlight with the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo‑Addo. Both proved to be big attractions, packing out the main auditorium to the point where there was not even standing room available. Ramaphosa said his government’s message to investors was “we are taking practical mea- sures to build an economy that is underpinned by inclusive growth, competitiveness and

transformation.” Referring to relations with the mining industry, he acknowledged that there had been “a period of strained relations where the courts became the main platform of engage- ment” but said this was now in the past. He noted that the government had prioritised the restoration of a policy and regulatory envi- ronment that was stable and predictable and added that it had moved to speed up the finali- sation of the Mining Charter and to provide greater clarity on the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill. Ramaphosa ended his address by urging mining companies to realise what he termed the “10 Value Creating Principles for a more modern, successful and productive mining

President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses delegates at the Mining Indaba.

John Welborn and Lee-Anne de Bruin (right), both of Resolute, discuss the Syama underground project with moderator Carole Cable of Brunswick.

34  MODERN MINING  February 2019