Two pgm-related value chains were included in yesterday's (31st March) long-awaited announcement of the beneficiation strategy for the South African economy, Mining Weekly reports.

The draft document - which saw stakeholders offer input for the implementation of the value addition programme - has finally been confirmed by the department of minerals and energy (DME).

Among the five specific value chains revealed in the strategy were the auto-catalyst and diesel particulate manufacture using pgms category and the diamond processing and jewellery using gold, platinum and diamonds category.

Roger Baxter, Chief Economist at the Chamber of Mines, explained that the move is a valuable starting point as the country looks to exploit its mineral wealth through the creation of downstream jobs beyond mining.

He told the news provider: "We have been engaged with the process over a number of years. We are now at that juncture where the ideas are being synthesised, and now put down, so we think that this is an important and encouraging start, and we are going to engage quite heavily in the different areas."

The strategy, which has been 16 years in the making, has been compared to a green paper, with the possibility of a subsequent white paper, although it is not being viewed as a move towards legislation.

Following the success of the stakeholder comment period, DME Mineral Policy and Promotion Acting Deputy General Musa Mabuza confirmed that the strategy will now be adopted as a policy position for the country.

"This marks the beginning of the paradigm shift in the economic landscape of South Africa and we are committed to vigorously driving beneficiation as partners with business and labour," he was quoted by the news provider as saying.

"We appreciate the quantum of work that lies ahead of us, but we remain committed to work together to overcome those challenges."

Source:
SA launches draft beneficiation strategy (31/03/09)
http://www.miningweekly.com/article/sa-launches-draft-beneficiation-strategy-2009-03-31