The African mining sector will, similar to other regions, face uncertainty around supply and demand dynamics.
Much is expected of pioneer industries, such as mining, which often have to establish themselves and operate in environments that are less than ideal, lacking, for instance, in energy and transport infrastructure, local expertise and reliable supply chains, says independent consulting firm of engineers and scientists SRK Consulting.
Moreover, the economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has weakened African economies, necessitating that governments redirect scarce financial resources and, consequently, rendering financial plans and budgets obsolete, SRK director and principal consultant Andrew van Zyl tells Mining Weekly.
As the global mining sector increasingly embraces the “shared value” approach in its dealings with host countries and communities, mines will be expected to shoulder additional social responsibility regarding stakeholders.
Van Zyl highlights that mining can be a source of stability, provided that the burden placed on the industry remains manageable.
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