ESG IN THE MINERALS INDUSTRY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

TOPICS

Environmental

• Water (supply/demand, quality, Acid Mine Drainage opportunity not threat, nitrate contamination of groundwater etc)
• Air pollution (options, implications, opportunities etc)
• Biodiversity (options, offsets, implications, value)
• Landuse and rehabilitation (options, opportunities etc).

Social

• Sustainable alternative livelihoods (options, employment logic etc)
• Education (skills, migration, employment opportunity etc)
• Gender based violence (manifestations, initiatives, implications etc).

Governance

• Governance explained (regulatory, financial, moral, ethical etc)
• Stock exchange requirements (JSE, ASX, TSX etc)
• SAMCODES (where do they fit and why).

Sustainability

• Industrial ecology (what it is, how it works, examples?)
• Carbon neutrality (options, implications, technology, constraints e.g. Eskom transmission, legislation etc)
• Circular economy (concept, constraints, value chain impact etc).

keynote speakers

Busisipho Siyobi:
Head of Natural Resource Governance Programme | Good Governance Africa

A public policy researcher with a focus on Southern Africa’s mineral resources governance and management. Her research expertise includes Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) integration and corporate social responsibility initiatives that promote sustainability and social inclusion for mining-host communities. Busisipho holds an MPhil in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Cape Town with a research focus on Corporate Social Responsibility within the South African mining industry. During her Masters, she worked under the Governance of Africa Resources Programme as a research scholar at the South African Institute of International Affairs.

Prior to joining GGA, Busisipho led a research team for the Corporate Intelligence Monitor Desk at S-RM Intelligence and Risk Management consultancy, where she was responsible for overseeing the delivery of due diligence monitoring products and services to various clients. She specialised in conducting monitoring of due diligence and corporate investigations focused on oil and gas and mining industries. At GGA, she has led on research projects examining South Africa’s mining sectors regulatory environment and the role of mining codes that aim to promote transparency and accountability in the extractives industries.

Reinhardt Sven Arp,
Senior Associate, Carbon Trust

Reinhardt is a Senior Associate in the Carbon Trust Africa, with over 7 years’ experience in climate change and low-carbon transition advisory. He works across a range of research- and advisory-based projects, supporting private and public sector clients with Net Zero and carbon offset strategy advisory, target setting and feasibility assessments, emissions footprinting (product and Scope 1-3), TCFD assessments, just transition advisory, value chain engagement and sustainable finance. Reinhardt specialises in mining and metals, energy and sustainable finance sectors. Other areas of interest include circular economy, policy research and advisory, and futures research. Prior to joining the Carbon Trust, Reinhardt worked for the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) where he gained valuable experience in climate change research and policy advocacy working on South Africa's Carbon Tax Bill, Climate Change Bill, draft Climate Change Mitigation System and just transition research. He also has experience in the circular plastics economy and developed policy recommendations for South Africa's Extended Producer Responsibility regulations during his time at WWF-SA. Reinhardt holds a Masters in Environmental Economics (M.Econ) from Rhodes University.

Rohitesh Dhawan,
President and Chief Executive Officer International Council on Mining Metals

Rohitesh “Ro” Dhawan is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). He leads the Council of 24 CEOs of the world’s largest mining & metals companies in voluntary leadership actions that raise the standards of responsible mining.

Under his leadership, ICMM has undertaken landmark commitments and action on critical sustainable development issues, including the first industry-wide commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions, the first collective commitment of any sector on nature positive, pioneering actions on diversity, equity and inclusion, and significant steps towards transparency of the industry’s contribution and performance, including on tax and contract disclosure.

Ro is a Fellow and faculty member of the Africa Leadership Initiative and a Raisina fellow at the Asian Forum on Global Governance. He serves on the Advisory Boards of the Columbia Centre for Sustainable Investment, Concordia, and Resolve. He has served on the UK Government’s Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (PACT) Programme and was named one of South Africa’s climate change leaders for his work with the country’s mining sector.

Ro hold a Master’s in Environmental Change & Management from the University of Oxford in the UK and an undergraduate degree in Economics from Rhodes University in South Africa.

Mzila Mthenjane
Business Leader I Mining Sector Executive I Board Member

Mr. Mzila I. Mthenjane (“Mzila”) is the CEO of the Minerals Council South Africa (“MCSA”), the Advocacy and Impact group whose members represent 90% of South Africa’s mineral output and employ close to 480 000 people . He was previously the Executive Head for Stakeholder Affairs at Exxaro Resources Limited. He has more than 30 years’ combined experience in the resources business (Gold, Platinum and Coal) and investment banking (Corporate and Project Finance).

He has held various board positions as non-executive director in various entities including Pamodzi Gold Limited, Fraser Alexander, Impact Catalyst, Merafe Resources, and Student Support Programme. He was on the Exxaro Executive Committee, intimately involved in stakeholder engagements and strategy.

He is the current Chairman of the Board of the Impact Catalyst and is the former Chairman of the Wits University Mining Engineers Association (WUMEA) and the former President of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM).

Mr. Mthenjane holds a BSc degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits). He has completed various leadership development training including the Senior Management Development Programme from the Graduate Institute of Management and Technology (GIMT), the ABSIP leadership programme with GIBS and Advanced Management Programme (AMP), with INSEAD.

His leadership acumen has greatly benefited his current role, drawing on his experiences in building and retaining harmonious yet robust relationships with diverse stakeholder groupings..

He is credited with successfully leading the development of Exxaro’s sustainable impact approach, as well as establishing Exxaro’s ESG narrative for stakeholder engagement. Through his leadership, Exxaro has remained among the top performers for integrated reporting, as acknowledged by local and offshore ratings agencies.

Gordon Smith Pr Eng PhD
Independent advisor (post-retirement) and Non-Executive Director

Gordon is a registered Professional Engineer, an Honorary Life Fellow and Past President of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and holds a range of industry technical and managerial qualifications. Gordon has extensive experience in the field of business leadership, strategic planning, operational management, business start-ups, feasibility studies, mineral property valuation, prospect evaluation, mine planning & layout/design, rock mechanics, mine economics, risk management and techno-economic evaluation, with an emphasis on systems analyses and optimization, in a variety of precious metal, base metal, ferrous metals, chrome, diamond and semi-precious stone, coal operations. Following retirement from the Technical, Safety and Sustainability Executive role at Anglo American Platinum Ltd in late 2020 he has been conducting capital project investment assurance reviews across Anglo American plc operations globally. He transitioned to an independent advisor and non-executive director in 2024.

Andrew van Zyl
Managing Director, SRK

Andrew has over 21 years of experience in mining. He specializes in valuation of mining projects and companies. Andrew worked in production and project roles up to 2006, when his focus shifted to strategy, business development, and valuation. His focus is the valuation of mineral assets but he regularly works on feasibility studies and due diligence and, on occasion, as expert witness. He has experience as technical advisor to government committees overseeing the negotiation of mining conventions and rail and mineral terminal concessions. His valuation experience includes: iron ore, manganese, chrome, copper, coal, gold, and the platinum group metals. He is on the council of the SAIMM and is a member of the Institute of Directors. Andrew is the current SAMVAL chair and a member of IMVAL, the International Mineral Valuation Committee.

Michael Solomon
University of Cape Town

Professor Solomon is a mining engineer with 43 years of experience in the gold, platinum, diamond and coal sectors. He was the first operational CEO of Wesizwe Platinum, a large platinum producing underground mine he took the company from first borehole through listing on the JSE and the raising of the full funding for the capital construction of the Bakubung Platinum Mine, which is now in production.

He served on the Board of ASX-listed Gold One (the precursor company to Sibanye Stillwater) as Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Health, Safety and Environment Committee.

He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town where he specialises in the economic diversification and decarbonisation of mines.

He is a Non-Executive Director of Sedibelo Resources Limited for whom he chairs the Board Technical Committee and sits on the ESG Committee.

He has recently been awarded an Honorary Life Fellowship of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy(SAIMM) for his contribution to mining in South Africa. He has served as a Member of Council of the Institute for over a decade and he chairs the SAIMM ESGS Committee.

Sarah Cooper
Digby Wells

Sarah leads Digby Wells’ ESG Division and has over 17 years’ experience in the sector. She specialises in the development and implementation of pragmatic ESG strategies to meet current needs and set a path for future ambitions. During 2020 and 2021 Sarah was seconded to Barrick Gold as Group ESG Affairs Manager, helping develop and drive the company’s post-merger ESG strategy and disclosures. Sarah also spent time as an ESG Analyst at CDC Group, the UK government’s Development Finance Institute, where she helped to develop the organisation’s ESG Toolkit for Fund Managers, and it's first Development Impact Report. Sarah has served on the World Gold Council’s ESG taskforce, and the International Mining and Metals Council’s Working Groups for Climate change and Responsible Sourcing.

registration fees

Early bird discount valid until 8 July 2024.
Kindly note, registration closes on 13 October 2024. Please note late registrations will incur a R500 administration fee for registrations received after the closing date.

CALL FOR PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS

Prospective authors may choose to submit papers or presentations only.

In person presentations will be preferred, although virtual presentations may be streamed live or pre-recorded.

Prospective authors are invited to submit titles and abstracts of their papers and/or presentations in English.

Authors must note whether they wish to submit a peer reviewed paper or a standalone presentation. Authors must note whether they plan to attend in person or whether they would deliver a live-streamed or recorded virtual presentation.

Abstracts should be no longer than 500 words and should be submitted to: Camielah Jardine, Head of Conferencing, E-mail: camielah@saimm.co,za
The complete Proceedings volume will be made available electronically.

KEY DATES

• Abstract Submission: 3 June 2024
• Abstract Acceptance: 24 June 2024
• Paper Submission 5 August 2024

Programme

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Sponsorship

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accommodation

More about accommodation here...

Accommodation at the Glenburn Lodge is available as follows:
Garden Suite @ R1780 per single, per night, B&B
2-bedroom or 3-bedroom chalet @ R1430 per person single in a room, but sharing a house, B&B
(all the rooms have to be occupied to qualify for the rate)

To book, please contact below:
Lelanie Tester
reservations@glenburn.co.za l bushwillow@glenburn.co.za
011 668 1600/1629

Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Camielah Jardine: Head of Conferencing
E-mail: camielah@saimm.co.za
Tel: +27 11 538 0238