Greater communication between government, local communities and the mining industry is required to ensure that the standards of sustainable development are maintained in the South African mining sector, it has been claimed.

Speaking at the Chamber of Mines Sustainable Development Conference, Barnard Mokwena, Group Manager for Corporate Communications at Lonmin Platinum, said that more meetings will enable controversial issues such as lack of skills development and land claims to be more readily resolved.

In particular, Mr Mokwena highlighted the need for mining firms to "engage extensively with communities to find out their needs".

He also drew attention to the fact that mining firms are increasingly finding that land claimants in mineral rich areas are not seeking to build new houses, but rather are often looking to secure equity in the mine, buanews.com reports.

"Many say they also want a piece of the action," he said.

Among the firms present at the conference in Gauteng, which this year had the theme of Delivering on Our Commitments, included Impala Platinum, De Beers and Xstrata Gold.

Source:

South Africa: More Interaction Needed Between Govt, Mines, 17/10/07
http://allafrica.com/stories/200710170917.html

2007 Chamber of Mines Sustainable Development Conference, 18/10/07
http://www.icmm.com/eventdetail.php?rcd=98

Ÿ Adfero Ltd