Having hosted its eighth MJT Mining Literacy Programme earlier this month, coal investor Menar brought together industry experts and professionals from diverse backgrounds to explore the opportunities, challenges and decisions shaping the future of mining.

The programme combined expert-led presentations with practical exposure to mining operations, providing participants with insights into the industry's history, value chain, financing, workforce and prospects.

Participants represented a diverse cross-section of the mining ecosystem and related industries. The group included students and researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of Johannesburg, University of South Africa and the Vaal University of Technology; professionals working in geology, engineering, logistics, auditing, information technology, consulting and marketing as well media practitioner.

 UJ Centre of Excellence for Integrated Mineral and Energy Resource Analysis director Professor Nikki Wagner discussed South Africa's mining history, geological background and future minerals.

Ferro Alloy Producers Association chariperson Nellis Bester provided insights on the state of mineral beneficiation, while MJT programme director Dianne Hawker-Kalubi gave her take on communicating reporting on complex mining topics to diverse audiences.

She also provided first-hand account reporting on illegal mining activities.

There were also high-level presentations on mining investments, trade union activism and the impact of technological innovations on mining.

RMB resources investment banking head Julian Grieve spoke about the role financing mining investments, and Congress of South African Trade Unions policy unit head Tanya van Meelis discussed on the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on mining related jobs.

Law firm NSDV Africa practice head Methembeni Moyo addressed the growing demand for critical minerals and its implications for Africa and the mining industry.

Speaking about the importance of initiatives such as MJT, Moyo said greater mining literacy could help foster a more inclusive conversation about the sector. He noted that the industry needed to move beyond an “us versus them” mindset that often frames investors, communities, workers, regulators and businesses as being at odds with one another. Instead, he advocated for a shared narrative focused on how all stakeholders can benefit from Africa's vast mineral resources and growing global demand.

Van Meelis said the programme equipped participants with a more informed basis for engaging with labour-related issues in mining, moving discussions away from ideology and towards a better understanding of employment trends, workforce composition and how the sector is evolving. “Instead of it being an ideological debate about whether labour is good or whether labour is bad, this initiative has given people more facts and figures around employment, the composition of the workforce, and how it's been changing” she stated.

The programme concluded with a visit to Canyon Coal's Khanye Colliery in Bronkhorstspruit, where attendees received an overview of the mining process, from exploration and mine planning through to extraction and product delivery. The visit also included witnessing of a controlled overburden blast.

The MJT Mining Literacy Programme forms part of Menar Academy's efforts to improve understanding of the mining industry and create opportunities for professionals from diverse disciplines to engage meaningfully with the sector.