Page 8 - AfrElec Week 27

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SA mines suffer from COVID-19

SOUTH AFRICA A total of 18 mineworkers have so far died from at the University of Witwatersrand, infections
coronavirus (COVID-19) in South Africa, with among mine workers reflect the conditions in
3,000 workers having tested positive for the communities where they reside. More infections
virus, according to data released by the country’s should be anticipated in the coming months, he
Minerals Council, an industry body, this week. added.
More than half of the deaths were in the plat- “What is happening in the mines is to be
inum sector, which has seen the highest number expected. It is not extraordinary, given that
of infections as companies ramp up production infections in the country are currently on the
following the easing of lockdown regulations, rise,” said Rees.
South Africa’s fin24 reported. Companies are also yet to recall several work-
Gold mines, which have some of the world’s ers from neighbouring countries who left South
deepest shafts, have reported six deaths, while no Africa ahead of the hard lockdown. Borders
deaths have occurred in the coal sector. remain closed for normal travel.
According to the Minerals Council, the North The Minerals Council previously dismissed
West platinum mining belt has 1,643 confirmed claims the the mining sector was a hot spot for
cases of COVID-19, followed by the gold sector, infections, attributing the rising number of
which is trailing at 914, and coal mines with 263 infections to rigorous testing mechanisms. So far,
cases. The number of deaths has been slowly ris- 290,535 workers have been screened and 21,386
ing, despite hygiene and safety guidelines aimed tests conducted.
at curbing the spread of infections, including the The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)
daily screening of employees before they enter believes that the explosion of infections in the
work spaces. platinum belt was a result of lack of adherence
Since the beginning of phased-in produc- to safety guidelines during the earlier stages of
tion from May, companies have beefed up safety the lockdown.
protocols to adhere to industry-wide codes of “Some mines in the early stages of the lock-
practice adopted to prevent the spread of the down applied to the Department of Mineral
virus, which has already claimed over 3 000 lives Resources and Energy to be allowed to operate
around the country. during the lockdown. During that time there was
According to David Rees, Emeritus Professor no adherence to safety regulations,” said spokes-
of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology person Livhuwani Mammburu.™

HYDRO

Talks continue on GERD

ETHIIOPA TALKS have been held again this week between neighbours.
Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the future of the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). told the UN Security Council in June that a
The African Union is again mediating dispute would heighten tensions in the region.
talks, although Ethiopia on one side and Egypt Egypt also holds that the dam would damage
and Sudan on the other seem to have taken water flows in the Nile, and the economy of
entrenched positions that offer little hope of any Egypt.
breakthrough. Sudan has gradually moved to Cairo’s posi-
At the same time as the talks, Ethiopian Prime tion, and has also written to the UN outlining
Minister Abiy Ahmed announced this week that its desire to reach a breakthrough in talks and to
Addis Ababa would start filling the GERD’s res- reach a final agreement.
ervoir, taking advantage of the upcoming rainy The two countries have much support
season, adding that this would not harm Egypt. from surrounding Arab nations, and have also
However, Mohamed Al-Sebaei, spokesman brought in mediators from the US, although this
of Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irri- has so far failed.
gation, said there was no verified information Ethiopia maintains its position that it has the
that filling the reservoir was planned to start sovereign right to build the dam, and while both
without the agreement of Egypt and Sudan. sides acknowledge the positions of the other
While Egypt and Sudan are adamant in sides, Addis Ababa is confident that it will com-
insisting that Ethiopia much reach an agreement plete construction without its neighbours’ agree-
with them over completing construction and ment and begin filling the dam in July.
filling the 74bn cubic metre dam, Addis Ababa The construction of the 147m high, 1.8-km
is content to continue building the 6,475MW long project is predicted to be completed by
facility without any formal deal with its northern 2023.™

P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 27 09•July•2020