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Mining Indaba is one of the largest and most important and informative mining conferences in the world, according to Dennis Gibson, chief technical officer of Black & Veatch Mining.
The Investing in African Mining Indaba, which ran from February 4 - 7 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, is considered the largest annual mining investment event in Africa. It brings together investors, mining groups, government officials and labour.
"This is the fourth year that Black & Veatch would have attended the Mining Indaba, and each year we've been thrilled by the quality of attendees and speakers as well as the relevance of the event programme," he told Fin24.
In his view, this year's programme, which was targeted at "Championing Africa Sustainable Development", will present opportunities for Black & Veatch to leverage sustainable solutions in support of mining development in Africa.
"Because it brings together so many players in the industry, Mining Indaba offers a rare opportunity for miners and experts to network across the entire mining value chain," he said.
Sustainability central
Asked about the issue of climate change in relation to the mining industry, Gibson said the impacts of climate change – combined with an expanding global population, increasing urbanisation and a growing demand for water and energy – are rippling throughout the mining industry.
"Sustainability was once a 'nice to have', but now it is essential and – as with safety – is now a core consideration for miners," he said.
"Shareholders and regulators are keeping increasingly close watch, which is narrowing the focus on the social, environmental and economic costs of mining."
Water and energy remain critical risk issues for the mining industry, he pointed out, but the advent of new technologies and treatments are positioning mining leaders for greater success when designing mines for sustainability and longevity.
Mining 'at a crossroads'
"The mining industry is at a crossroads, where decisions made now have the potential to maximise productivity, efficiency and improve resilience well into the future," said Gibson.
"After the protracted downturn of the last few years, there is renewed enthusiasm and excitement for growth opportunities across the board within the mining sector.
"As global production of electric vehicles continues to pick up steam, the market for the so-called 'battery metals' as well as demand for copper will continue to strengthen, giving the industry strong reason to be optimistic."
He said this evolution in the transportation sector would create new opportunities for miners to grow, meet, and share best practices towards sustainable solutions.
"Similarly, the underlying foundation of the global economy is strong and demand for natural resources will continue to grow. Africa is well-positioned to provide critical resources and Mining Indaba is a wonderful place for the industry to share the latest developments and build relationships," he said.
