Modern Quarrying January-February 2016

REGULAR UPDATE ASPASA

Proactive Aspasa – a tough campaigner The Aggregate & Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) has sent out an invitation to its members to attend the prestigious GAIN meeting, which is being held at The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West, from April 11-13. MQ chats to Aspasa director Nico Pienaar about GAIN and the Association’s activities over the last quarter.

G AIN (the Global Aggregates Information Network) was founded by UEPG (European Aggregates Association) in 2010, driven by the convic- tion that international sharing of experi- ence and best practice promotes a more efficient and sustainable aggregates industry globally. It is impressive to note that GAIN members currently represent 60% of the global aggregates production estimated at 37,5-billion t, and therefore has a major lobbying strength on behalf of the industry. GAIN meetings were held in Brussels in October 2014 attended by representa- tives from aggregate associations across Europe, North America, South America, Australia, China and South Africa. Many valuable insights and experi- ences were shared on common health and safety, environmental, economic, as well as technical and public relations chal- lenges. The discussions revealed that the industry faces similar challenges across the globe with the various regions devis- ing different approaches and solutions. There is ongoing contact between these associations providing value support on specific industry challenges as they arise. It has been decided to hold these meetings at two-year intervals, with the next one being hosted by Aspasa, in Cape Town. At this stage, it looks as if there will be attendees from the USA, Australia, China and South America, together with the sec- retary-general of UEPG Dirk Fincke, and

quarry operations undercutting prices, as well as legal borrow pits set up by municipalities and contractors as a tem- porary source of sand and stone, often in non-compliance with basic rules and legislation. “Additionally, our quarries are gov- erned by the same legislation as mines and have to comply with stringent and

Jim O’Brien, who is the honorary presi- dent of UEPG and the GAIN coordinator. The agenda promises to be excellent with discussions on developments in the various regions, followed by round- table reviews. Presentations include safety, occupational health, environmen- tal aspects and illegal quarrying. Other papers will look at global machinery inno- vations, the pros and cons of aggregate production taxation, best practice experi- ences for optimal cost efficiency, the chal- lenges of representing SMEs, and dealing with a future vision for the industry. The executives coming to South Africa are captains of the global aggregate industry, and the networking opportuni- ties will certainly prove to be invaluable. The GAIN meeting is being held prior to the Institute of Quarrying Southern Africa’s (IQSA) annual conference and exhibition, which is held in conjunction with Aspasa, at The Lord Charles from April 14-15. Discussing aggregates as a strategic resource, Pienaar says our law makers need to take a leaf from the book of a recently passed Bill by the USA House of Representatives defining aggregates as strategic and critical. The House acknowl- edges that aggregates play an essential role in the national security and economic viability of the country, and are vital for infrastructure and transportation infra- structure. In South Africa, the aggregates industry is under increasing pressure from a number of fronts. Among others, the industry faces severe threats from illegal

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MODERN QUARRYING January - February 2016