MZILA MTHENJANE AND HUGO PIENAAR: Mining must move from potential to performance
Sector needs to untap its power to stimulate the economy and deliver social benefits that will restore the dignity of our nation
We define mining’s potential as pent-up ability that is withheld by forces beyond the industry’s control. We have heard so much about the mineral potential of our country. It is consistently thrown in our faces when we attend international mining conferences and listen to what other countries are achieving with so much less than we have. We must shift from potential to great performance.
This week’s release of fourth-quarter 2023 GDP data by Stats SA provides an opportunity to reflect on the performance of the mining sector, as well as its contribution to the broader economy. Mining operations are not only energy intensive, the sector is also heavily exposed to the freight logistics system. As a result, mining has suffered from record Eskom load-curtailment and Transnet’s rail and port bottlenecks in the last two years...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.