Minerals Council confirms support for 21-day lockdown
25 March 2020
The Minerals Council South Africa, on behalf of its members,has reaffirmed its support for the 21-day lock-down to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the efforts by government to manage this unprecedented crisis.
The Minerals Council has carried out constructive discussions with Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe on the implementation of the lock-down in mining that envisages significant scaling down of mining activities. Companies may apply to the Minister on a case-by-case base for limited operations.
The Minister has indicated that operations supplying Eskom will continue to be mined to optimise energy security, though at a reduced level. Coal supplied to enable the manufacture of liquid fuels is also considered an essential service.
Minister Mantashe acknowledged the importance of maintaining value-adding mining infrastructure, especially refineries and smelters, which cannot easily be switched on and off. These operations will continue to operate at reduced levels, using stockpiled ores or lower levels of mining production, while ensuring that due care is taken with preventative and monitoring measures to protect those staff.