Key Points
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Fruitful outcomes needed from Minerals Council-Mintek agreement soon.
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Industry warns delays could undermine South Africa’s mining competitiveness.
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Investors and unions demand quick, tangible innovation results.
The mining industry in South Africa is pushing for quick results from a deal between the Minerals Council South Africa and the state-owned research agency Mintek. This is because there are growing worries that delays in innovation could hurt competitiveness.
Last week in Johannesburg, the deal was announced as a major step toward bringing together research supported by both the government and the private sector on important issues like mineral beneficiation and decarbonization.
According to a report by Mining weekly, Dr. Shirley Hayes, acting CEO of Mintek, and Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council, said that the partnership would focus on applied research to help miners deal with changes in technology and energy use around the world.
The Minerals Council and Mintek deal needs to have good results
However, people in the industry say that the deal needs to lead to real results quickly if South Africa wants to keep up with other countries. Roger Baxter, who used to be the CEO of the Minerals Council, said, “We can’t afford plans that stay on paper anymore.” “If the Council-Mintek agreement is to mean anything, it needs to have measurable goals within months, not years.”
The partnership is expected to look into how AI can be used in mining, how to use advanced metallurgy to get important minerals like manganese and platinum, and how to make water use more efficient. Stakeholders say that South Africa can’t afford to fall behind because energy markets around the world are moving quickly.
Minerals Council and Mintek are under pressure to deliver
The Minerals Council is in charge of more than 80% of South Africa’s mining output, and Mintek has been known for a long time for its work in mineral processing and technology innovation. But critics point to past partnerships between businesses and government that fell apart because of bureaucratic delays and lack of money.
Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe was happy with the deal, but he told both sides to “focus on execution rather than rhetoric.” He said that the state would keep an eye on progress to make sure that research led to solutions for businesses and jobs.
Investors are keeping an eye on how quickly the deal is moving forward
Investors and workers are also keeping a close eye on what happens. Peter Major, who is in charge of mining at Modern Corporate Solutions, said that foreign investors want proof that South Africa can turn plans into actions. “Competition for investment around the world is fierce. He said, “A working partnership between the Minerals Council and Mintek could calm the markets, but empty promises won’t.”
The stakes are just as high for communities that rely on mining. Labor unions like the National Union of Mineworkers have asked for new ideas that will make mines safer and make old shafts last longer. NUM spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu said, “We want to see technology that protects workers, not just profits.”
People think that the Minerals Council-Mintek partnership could help bring things up to date, but its credibility depends on how quickly it can show real, useful results.
