M S A
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feature
Platinum, Gold and‌
green? Keith Scott, MD of The MSA Group, talks to Erica Wark about how the mining business is taking a green turn. 2
MSA Group FEATURE
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efore you turn that first shovel of dirt on your new mining project, in fact, before you place a pin in the map for your site, or even decide what you’re digging for; you should speak to The MSA Group. The MSA Group are specialist consultants to the mining industry, with nearly three decades of expertise in the field, and competency in almost every mineral commodity, they have a team of 80 consultants who you can call upon when you are considering entering the mining industry. The MSA Group’s Geological Services have been utilized in mineral exploration projects in over 30 countries worldwide, with extensive reporting experience on the major international mining stock exchanges. As an example of the breadth of experience, their Exploration Portfolio consists of: gold, PGE’s, base metals, coal, uranium, diamonds, iron ore, bauxite, manganese and REE’s.
How could working with The MSA Group consultants help you? South Africa has a wealth of mining opportunities, and The MSA Group can advise on the sourcing of any ore bodies throughout the country, or globally. Keith Scott explained the principle they work upon is to “provide their clients with information on the best economic and also most socially and environmentally responsible physical practice.” Therefore, by consulting with The MSA Group pre-mining, you will benefit from access to the strongest geological, environmental and mining knowledge you could wish for, and the peace of mind that they are dedicated to investigating and advising on the complete project; encompassing everything from targeting, to valuation and rehabilitation. While the economic advantages of mining are always closely studied, the rehabilitation element has not always been of top priority to some mining groups. This has undoubtedly
caused frustration for communities, but also for The MSA Group consultants. Scott explained that, historically, “we haven’t seen enough companies wanting to invest in the ‘complete development’ of their mining projects.” Certainly, the ideal client for The MSA Group is a company, whether small or large, whose intent is to develop their project in line with corporate social initiatives, and who abide by the international best practice. The MSA Group is committed to being a responsible company, which is one of the factors why it holds the Gold Standard for the industry, and is considered to be the employer of choice and the service provider of choice. The great news is that Scott is pleased to note they are witnessing a shift in the industry. With the recent passing of legislation such as the Equator Principle; a global policy which means that anyone wishing to finance mining will now be required to be accountable for the socioenvironmental rehabilitation of the area post-mining. We can now expect to see any new projects being better aligned with their responsible ethos. In 2009 The MSA Group was bought by Mining, Oil and Gas Services who are in turned owned by Royal Bafokeng Holdings , which has brought on board some financial savvy to this group of talented geologists, environmentalists and mining professionals. This has allowed the business to grow and enabled the procurement of a dedicated environmental consultancy. In the last two years The MSA Group has honed the new skillset into a full suite of services that will see your projects through from start to responsible finish. Both The MSA Group, and their new parent company Royal Bafokeng, have precise corporate social responsibility programmes, and a philosophy of working to bring real value to the areas that they advise on for mining projects. A key initiative www.southafricamag.com
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MSA Group FEATURE
in their minds is to create infrastructure for the community any project touches. Many tangible examples of this can be seen in the Bafokeng communities; with the provision of Clinics, Schools, Parks, Roads and numerous infrastructure which ensures that South African communities are also feeling the positive effects of their mining projects. As Scott explained “The philosophy underpinning our environmental offering is based on finding optimal and innovative solutions to environmental challenges. We have a team of highly qualified environmental scientists who are committed to and passionate about service excellence and their own professional development.� So, in consulting with The MSA Group you can rest assured your project will be in the best hands. The MSA Group offers a comprehensive suite of services across all industry sectors, including Government.
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www.southafricamag.com
The Environmental Services they offer are as follows: Environmental Impact Assessments Exploration and Mining Rights Applications and Closure Pre-feasibility and Feasibility Studies Site Environmental Control Officers Legal Reviews and Registers GAP Analysis Environmental Auditing and Due Diligence Assessments Permitting and Licenses Environmental Risk Assessments Environmental Management Plans Sustainable Development Strategies Specialist Studies Surface Water, Ground Water and Waste Water Integrated Waste Management Plans Environmental Education and Awareness Programs
We proudly offer quality services in:
as We a so cia re p ted rou wi dly th MS A
• Impact Assessments • Biodiversity assessments, flora and fauna • Plant species identification • Evaluation of habitats for fauna, fauna species lists • Assessment of Red Data and Protected species for plants and fauna • Vegetation and ecosystem sensitivity maps • Assessment of Wetlands, riparian vegetation • Nature reserve, game and cattle farm veld management planning, veld condition and grazing capacity assessment, stocking rates for livestock and game • Monitoring of biodiversity, veld condition • Recovery of disturbed areas 88 Njala Rd Monument Park Pretoria 0181 • PO Box 25533 Monument Park 0105 Tel: +27 (0)12 460 2525 • Fax: +27 (0)12 460 2525 • Cell: 0825767046 Email: george@ecoagent.co.za
The MSA Group also offers the following: Exploration Services: Targeting Geological Mapping Remote Sensing Geophysics Geochemistry Programme Design and Project Management Turn-key Exploration Services Drilling Programmes GIS and Database Development and Management QAQC and Programme Auditing Evaluation Services: Geological and Structural Modeling Resource and Reserve Estimation Public Reporting Environmental Services, Rehabilitation and Closure
Mining Services Valuations Due Diligence and Scoping Studies (Mine Financial Modeling, Mining, Processing, Tailings, Water, Utilities, Infrastructure, Marketing, Human Resources)
Pre-feasibility and feasibility studies Mining business optimization Finally, as a tip-off for strong mining investments over the next couple of years, consider; Rare earth elements: used in manufacturing components for high end IT industry, Uranium, Platinum, Gold: which has been strong for a couple of years and due to stay strong… but please, don’t just take my word for it, speak to a consultant at The MSA Group to find out more about which could be a big earner for your future. To speak with a consultant at The MSA Group, or for more information on their corporate social responsibility programmes, please go to www.msagroupservices.com / www.bafokengholdings.com END www.southafricamag.com
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