South Africa's informal miners fight for their future in coal's twilight
Informal Mining Activities in South Africa's Coal Sector
Informal Mining Activities in South Africa's Coal Sector
South Africa is a leading producer of coal, which generates approximately 80% of the nation’s electricity. In the eastern Mpumalanga province, informal miners, often referred to as "artisanal miners," operate in unauthorized coal mines. These individuals, including those like Cyprial, engage in high-risk activities to supply local communities with coal for energy needs.
The South African government classifies these miners as "illegal," whereas the miners themselves prefer the term "artisanal mining," emphasizing the necessity of their work for local communities. These activities are considered essential by local miners' unions, such as the one chaired by Jabulani Sibiya in Ermelo, due to the high cost of electricity in the region.
Informal mining remains a contentious issue, with President Cyril Ramaphosa describing it as a threat to the national economy and security. In 2021, there were an estimated 40,000 illegal miners in South Africa, predominantly in abandoned gold mines. In contrast, the formal coal sector provides over 100,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly, as per University of Cape Town research.
Informal Mining Activities in South Africa's Coal Sector South Africa is a leading producer of coal, which generates approximately 80% of the nation’s electricity.
South Africa, a significant greenhouse gas emitter, signed a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) deal worth $8.5 billion in 2021, aimed at reducing reliance on coal and promoting green energy. However, there are concerns in regions like Ermelo about being excluded from this transition. The National Association of Artisanal Miners advocates for a shift towards sustainable, small-scale mining.
Efforts are ongoing to secure a collective mining permit for Ermelo's artisanal miners, although the process is challenging and expensive. The focus remains on ensuring that sustainability and inclusion of marginalized communities are integral to the transition strategy, as emphasized by spokesperson Zethu Hlatshwayo.
The transition seeks to incorporate artisanal and small-scale mining into the evolving energy landscape, ensuring no community is disadvantaged in the move towards sustainable energy solutions.
Based on reporting by Africanews.
