Mining research for enhanced competitiveness

Abstract

Mining is very important to South Africa, contributing 7% of GDP directly, and 15% indirectly and employing more than 450 000 people. With the world’s largest resources of gold, platinum and ferrochrome, and major coal resources, mining will continue to be important to South Africa for decades to come. Mining is also facing significant challenges: Too many people are killed in our mines; an even larger number of people contract occupational diseases from working in mines; there is a shortage of human capital at all levels from labourers to professionals; and as costs rise, operations are threatened