Mining for tomorrow

Nandeshasho NickanorThe extractive industries stand at a critical crossroads. While the world demands resources, there are also urgent calls to protect our natural environment. Mining, often perceived solely as extractive, holds a powerful opportunity to contribute meaningfully to global biodiversity goals. By embedding biodiversity and community well-being into operational DNA, the sector can demonstrate that development and conservation are not opposing forces, but complementary pillars of sustainable progress.This goes beyond compliance to a conscious integration guided by a company’s Environmental Policy. Through efforts such as habitat restoration, biodiversity monitoring, and strategic partnerships with government entities, NGOs, and private-sector collaborators, mining companies can operate responsibly while maintaining efficiency.When sustainability and conservation are seen as complementary rather than competing priorities, they unlock a new dimension of operational excellence. By embracing nature-positive practices throughout the life of a mine, companies can commit to a net-positive impact on biodiversity, demonstrating that progress and preservation can coexist.However, this demands a mature Environmental Management System, one that does not merely tick regulatory boxes but actively drives prevention, protection and restoration. It must be designed to identify and evaluate both actual and potential environmental impacts, with mitigation measures that avoid them where possible or minimise their effects where unavoidable.When restoration becomes part of the operational fabric, conservation gains momentum. Through concurrent rehabilitation efforts, ecosystems begin their journey towards renewal even before mining concludes. Guided by robust environmental management systems, companies can work hand in hand with stakeholders, combining collective wisdom with operational insight to create strategies that protect and rebuild ecosystems, ensuring conservation is a daily practice.Strategic water stewardshipWater is a key example of how mining can reshape its impact. Through closed-loop systems and innovative technologies, companies can reclaim and reuse process water, achieving high reuse targets while minimising environmental footprint.The key lies in setting clear monthly and annual water use goals, consistently measuring performance against them, and engaging dedicated experts in water stewardship. Every maintained pipe and every avoided leak adds up to saved resources, reduced costs, and a culture that respects one of our most vital assets. Awareness campaigns, infrastructure investment, and accurate data reporting all contribute to a responsible water strategy aligned with global sustainable development goals.In mining, systems alone are not enough. People are at the heart of sustainable practices. Environmental awareness and competence training across employees and contractors ensures the entire workforce understands how their actions affect the environment, and how they can be part of the solution. In this way, sustainability becomes both a shared value and an operational principle.Mining’s role does not end when the last mineral is extracted. The sector can act as a springboard for sustainable livelihoods that extend far beyond its lifespan. OMDis, a Section 21 non-profit company established by Namdeb as its Town Transformation Agency, exemplifies how mining operations can contribute to long-term community development through investments in infrastructure, SME support, and skills training. Such inclusive planning fosters resilience and economic diversification, empowering communities to thrive long after mine closure.Co-creation beyond consultationStakeholder forums are essential to this journey, but they must evolve. True co-creation goes beyond consultation. It means setting shared goals, using scientific data to inform decisions, and creating transparent governance structures that build trust. Periodically shifting these forums from boardrooms to site visits allows stakeholders to witness operations first-hand, deepening their understanding and enabling more meaningful contributions.There is immense untapped value in the areas where mining operates. The key is to uncover and elevate this potential through cross-sector partnerships. Whether through ecological tourism, cultural heritage, or education, the future landscape can reflect more than extraction. Even existing infrastructure – roads, open pits, historic buildings and machinery – can be preserved to tell the story of mining while serving new purposes. With thoughtful planning, these assets can become part of the region’s identity, supporting ventures such as tourism and generating both societal value and economic opportunity in a post-mining world.By committing to being good today, the mining sector – often seen as a symbol of consumption – can become a force for regeneration. Through embracing environmental responsibility, empowering people, and reimagining what legacy truly means, mining can help shape a better tomorrow.* Nandeshasho Nickanor is Namdeb’s environmental manager.

Mining for tomorrow

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Republikein 2025-09-12

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Mining for tomorrow

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