South Africa´s Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane (MP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with his Chilean counterpart, Ms Aurora Elvira Williams, on cooperation in the mining and minerals field. The MoU, which was signed in Santiago during the LatAm Mining Cumbre, commits the two countries to cooperation in areas including the following:

• Mineral processing and beneficiation
• Sharing experiences in underground mining, with a particular emphasis on technology and health and safety
• Cooperating in mineral development, technology and skills transfer, including small scale mining
• Sharing experiences in policy formulation and the regulatory framework
• Sharing of knowledge in geology and related functions
• Sharing experiences in environmental regulations, corporate social responsibility as well as best practices regarding inclusion of women in the mining industry.

“We are giving effect to a decision which was taken during a State Visit by the Chilean President to South Africa. Given the two countries´ rich history in mining, it is only fitting that we take this forward for implementation through the MoU, for the benefit of both our countries, Minister Zwane said.

The MoU serves as a framework to initiate the joint-cooperation work of the institutions of the two countries.

South Africa does indeed have a rich history in mining, but if the ridiculous new Mining Code comes into force as planned, its future is looking very unpromising.