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Mining : An Integral Part Of KZN'S Economy - Pivot

2017-06-09

Mining is an integral part of the Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal and South African economies. Its growth has stimulated employment, infrastructure development, and has encouraged the uptake of skills within the local workforce. There has been a recent surge in both the opening up of new mines and undertaking the various approval processes for proposed mines.

Richards Bay Minerals celebrated its 40th year of operation in the region in 2016 and is a significant contributor to the economy of KwaZulu-Natal. The operations are mainly situated north of Richards Bay in Zululand.

Tronox, with the opening of the Fairbreeze mine in 2015, made a major investment in the KwaZulu-Natal economy. The mine was a R 3.3 billion investment for the area. The KZN Sands operation is situated at Empangeni and consists of the Fairbreeze Mine at Mtunzini and Central Processing Complex in Empangeni.

ILMENITE, RUTILE AND ZIRCON

In South Africa, brown beach sand is generally made up of quartz and shell fragments. Black beach sand is made up of heavy minerals: ilmenite, rutile and zircon. Often mistaken for oil, those streaks actually indicate the presence of valuable minerals. Those minerals will eventually find their way into artificial hip joints, computer screens, your car’s brakes, and, yes, your toothpaste.

Titanium dioxide is used to create a pure white, highly refractive, ultraviolet-light-absorbing pigment. The pigment is non-toxic and biologically inert, and so it is used safely in products such as foods, toothpaste, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, as well as in paint, plastics, textiles and inks.

High-purity pig iron is used as a raw material in foundries for the production of ductile iron castings. Ductile iron is used extensively throughout the world for the production of safetycritical automotive parts, such as brake calipers and steering knuckles in cars and trucks.

Rutile is used in welding rod fluxes, or processed into its titanium metal form. It is used extensively in the aerospace and aviation industries because of its lightness, strength, corrosion and heat resistance. These properties also make it ideal for use in artificial hip joints and pacemakers.

Zircon is used in the production of ceramic tiles and sanitary ware. Refined to zirconia, it is used in a wide range of advanced ceramics, jewelry, and electronic applications, including television screens and computer monitors.

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Both Richard Bay Minerals and Tronox believe that their business operations can and should play a key role in improving the quality of life in the communities in which they operate. Through their efforts to ensure that their enterprises each operate in a sustainable manner with respect to people, resources and profit, the long term interests of all their stakeholders, who include employees, customers, business partners, investors, local communities, and government officials are promoted.

The development of local suppliers and host community enterprises ensures that the benefits of mining activities are directed to its host communities and contribute to their sustainability beyond the duration of a mine’s operations. Activities include a focus on local procurement, local employment, skills development and corporate social investment. Primary contractors have made a valuable and commendable contribution to community development by entering into joint ventures with hostcommunity enterprises. Joint ventures are a critical part of community empowerment, as they involve the transfer of skills without compromising standards and operational requirements.

An example is Mduduzi Nsele, owner of F.M.D. Industrial Cleaning, a company which assists with cleaning of spillages, tree-felling and grass-cutting, who appreciates the complete support provided to him: “Contractors are given on-site training, and business owners are given financial management skills. That support has been a big factor in our success.”

The support of local enterprises creates sustainability over the long term and true economic empowerment in communities, ensuring the benefits are felt widely and long after the life of operations.

REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES

The mining of sand dunes in the area is followed by rehabilitation programmes. After they’ve been processed, dunes are reshaped to mimic their pre-mining topography. Topsoil retrieved from in front of the mining face (and containing the seed and organic matter of the indigenous forests) is spread over the reshaped dunes and enriched with fast-growing annuals to begin biological processes and protect the topsoil from wind and water erosion. Assisted by periodic windbreaks, these annuals soon take root, greening and stabilising the dunes.




Mining : An Integral Part Of KZN'S Economy - Pivot

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