Climate change a significant risk to African mining Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it’s a present-day disruptor reshaping industries, economies and ecosystems. In Africa, few sectors are as exposed or as vital as mining. WSP in Africa’s Kierra Chetty, Principal Consultant for Climate Change, and Nirvishee Juggath, Director of Water Management, highlight the risks and the need for a shift toward resilience-focused innovation and adaptive measures.
productivity. The Foundation’s World Risk Poll reveals that one in five workers world- wide, 18%, faced harm at work in the past two years, a numbewr that rises to 21% in the mining and quarrying sector. Workplace health and safety conditions are further compounded by operational challenges, especially in water-scarce countries like South Africa, where the ongoing water crisis adds another layer of complexity to mine sustainability and resilience. “One of the most significant and complex climate-driven challenges facing mining operations across Africa is the need to man- age water effectively. Water risk in mining is no longer just about scarcity; it’s about volatility. Sudden stormwater surges, pro- longed dry spells, and shifting water quality demands require adaptive systems that can capture, store, treat, and reuse water efficiently and safely,” says Chetty. During extended droughts, mines strug- gle to secure the water needed for core functions such as mineral processing, dust suppression and equipment cooling. This is especially problematic in arid regions where water scarcity is already a concern. “In a country as water-stressed as South Africa, long-term performance relies on circularity such as protecting catchments, designing for reuse, and treating water as a shared resource to sustain both operations and communities,” says Chetty. “Additional rainfall would not resolve mining’s water challenges. When high intensity or out-of- season storms do occur, they frequently overwhelm mine infrastructure, flooding pits, tunnels, haul routes and waste areas, disrupting operations and introducing sub- stantial safety hazards.” Managing excess water is a delicate balancing act: mines must determine not only how to remove it, but also where and how to discharge it without breaching en- vironmental regulations or causing down- stream harm. Failure to do so can result in contamination, legal consequences and reputational damage. Compounding these challenges is out- dated or insufficient infrastructure, often built in an era when climate volatility was
Left: Chetty, Kierra (1), Principal Consultant for Climate Change at WSP. Right: Nirvishee Juggath, Director of Water Management for WSP.
I ntensifying droughts, erratic rainfall, and rising temperatures are placing growing pressure on water availability and operational stability. For mining companies, the compounded risks of envi- ronmental volatility and resource scarcity demand urgent attention. “Climate variability has shifted from rare disruptions to an operating baseline, reshaping how the mining sector plans and protects its people. Weather extremes are no longer outliers but a reality that must be engineered into every decision to ensure operational stability and long-term value,” says Kierra Chetty, Principal Consultant, Climate Change, WSP in Africa. For many African countries, mining is not just a sector; it’s an economic backbone. In South Africa, for instance, mining contrib-
utes approximately 6% to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Any disruption to operations, such as those triggered by the early onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown measures, can reverberate across the economy, affecting employment, exports, and fiscal revenue. Recovery from such shocks is often slow and complex, underscoring the sector’s critical role in economic resilience. Unlike sudden disruptions, the risks posed by climate change are largely predict- able, yet the risks are intensifying in both frequency and severity. The Lloyds Register Foundation’s Global Safety Evidence Centre reports that mine workers are increasingly on the front lines of this growing threat, facing extreme weather events and rising temperatures that compromise safety and
By integrating science-based insights, strengthening critical infrastructure, and optimising water and energy systems, mining operations can safeguard performance, protect communities, and reduce vulnerability while adapting effectively to an increasingly volatile climate.w
8 ¦ MechChem Africa • March-April 2026
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