Re-forging industry : post-mining landscapes

["Post-Mining", "Sustainability", "Industry", "Resilience", "Cullinan, South Africa", "UCTD"]

Harrison, Peter Carlton ; ["Crafford, Abre", "[e-mail]"]

University of Pretoria

Others  :  https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/2263/68443/1/Harrison_Chapter1-5_2018.pdf

瑞士|英语

来源: University of Pretoria

【 摘 要 】

English: The aim of this research is to explore the possibilities of thereuse and re-adaption of historical mining sites and towns ina postmining scenario. The threat of mine closure looms overSouth Africa and because the mining industry forms such a majorpart of the country's economy as well as labour market, thisis not a threat that can be ignored any further. Mine closuresoccur for various reasons, namely; the fall of global commodityprices, domestic cost pressures have risen too quickly (electricityprices and wages), uncertainty over the government'smining policy and a fall in productivity of mines (viability) (Baxter, 2016). Because mining towns and the mines they supporthave, up until this stage, have been very lucrative.There hasbeen no need for residents to diversify, or develop alternativestreams of income. The mining companies see no reason toinvest in infrastructure that doesn't directly benefit the mine ormeet minimum legislative requirements. Mine closures do nothave to spell the end for mining towns and their communities.If mining infrastructure and related industrial buildings can beused to house alternative forms of industry, then these communitieshave a chance of surviving.