Resource management key for future growth

Resource management key

FOR FUTURE GROWTH

Nico Pienaar, director of ASPASA

We now find ourselves in the position where the needs and expectations of our societies cannot be met without improved governance of sand resources. If we act now, it is still possible to avoid a sand crisis," said Sheila AggarwalKhan, director: Economy Division, UNEP.

In South Africa, the situation is not that dire – yet – says Nico Pienaar, director of surface mining industry association ASPASA, who says timely interventions in recent decades have contributed to the country’s sand resources being better managed than before.

The establishment of the association in the 1990s was a turning point for the sector when leaders and stakeholders took matters into their owns hands to self-regulate the industry and manage resources for future generations.

Full government recognition of ASPASA in later years also led to close cooperation between the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, members and labour. This type of cooperation has paved the way for a more sustainable sand industry.

“Right now, the country has all the expertise, resources and capital funding needed to ensure the industry’s longevity, provided the scales aren’t tipped in favour of illegal and informal operations that are sprouting around the country,” Pienaar explains.

“Government and the private sector can easily ensure that they are dealing with legal and sustainable operations by simply dealing with ASPASA members who have been audited and found to follow all licensing requirements, including health, safety and environmental legislation,” he continues.

The UN, in an unprecedented announcement made recently, warned world leaders of looming sand shortages that could stunt mankind’s future development.

ASPASA ISHE and Health and Safety Awards

The ASPASA 2021 ISHE and Health and Safety Awards, held in April 2022, underscores the association’s commitment to best practices. During the awards, Gert Coffee, chairperson at ASPASA, commended the organisation and its members for their achievement of zero harm incidents for six consecutive years. He reiterated that these awards are a celebration of ASPASA members’ consistency in their health and safety compliance.

The ASPASA ISHE and Health and Safety Awards winners for 2021 are: - Top Performer: Afrimat Qwa Qwa - Top Independent Performer: Midmar Quarry - Top Corporate Performer: Afrimat - Health & Safety Management Awards for

Outstanding Commitment: • Lucretia van Rensburg, Afrisam

Western Cape • Mogamat Bailey, Afrimat Western Cape. - Health & Safety Officer: • Laurencia Maphumulo, Midmar Quarry • Donald Katiso Tsotetsi, Afrimat Qwa Qwa. Sietse van der Woude, senior executive, Minerals Council South Africa, who was a guest speaker at the event, lauded Pienaar’s and the organisation’s tireless advocacy. In recognition, Pienaar was awarded ASPASA's Top Person of the Year by his peers for his unwavering commitment to the organisation and its members.

Standing by for infrastructure roll-outs

The material mining and quarrying industry in South Africa is a strong and resilient one that directly employs nearly half a million people, and its sustainability will be further supported by renewed public sector infrastructure development.

“Government wants to unlock higher levels of employment in the infrastructure sector, and we suggest it is critical to work with industry associations like ASPASA and regulatory bodies to ensure jobs created are meaningful, sustainable, safe and empower the larger communities rather than the select few,” adds Pienaar.

“We want to avoid the use of roadside borrow pits and unlawful illegal sand or aggregate operations. We expect government to rather make use of compliant ASPASA members who are tax-paying, law-abiding enterprises that contribute to local and national economies,” Pienaar concludes.