Towards sustainable metal extraction: Navigating energy and water challenges in the South African mining industry

The move towards technological advancements and industrial developments such as energy transition suggests that the mining industry will need to provide the world with vast quantities of critical metals in the future. As such, the mining sector is receiving increasing attention for the role it plays as a supplier of materials necessary to build the infrastructure for a carbon neutral future. However, the mining industry continues to face a number of obstacles which might make meeting the demand for these critical metals challenging. The increasing energy demand, the scarcity of fresh water supply and the growing need for responsible mining with regards to the environment and the society, are some of these challenges. This paper highlights the challenges around water and energy utilisation in the South African metal extraction industry and further discusses some of the strategies and initiatives being undertaken by the sector in order to ensure sustainability. The paper highlights that a move from linear to a circular approach in water utilisation and the integration of renewable energy sources to support the traditional coal powered energy supplies are some of the strategies that the mining industry is initiating to safeguard the uninterrupted supply of raw materials and products in not only an economically viable way but also in a responsible manner.