Natural Resources Minister Herbert Dhaliwal has signed two agreements with his South African counterpart, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, to increase co-operation in research and activities linked to sustainable resource development.
The first agreement is designed to allow government-funded mining research organizations to share research and expertise. For example, South Africa has considerable experience in deep mining, which will be valuable to such companies as Inco and Falconbridge in the Sudbury basin.
The joint effort would also aim to: find alternatives to using cyanide for gold processing; develop criteria for disposal of tailings; control diesel emissions; and develop inhibitors for acid mine drainage.
The second agreement identifies 15 areas where Canada and South Africa could benefit from closer collaboration. Some of these include increasing global awareness of the need for sustainable mining activities and the inclusion of a global dialogue on mining, minerals and metals at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg later this year. More specific areas of co-operation include conflict diamonds and the use of fly ash.
“Through co-operation in these key areas, we can help ensure that mining activities go hand-in-hand with the natural environment, promote social development and are economically viable,” says Dhaliwal.
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