JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – While there are differences between the mining industries in South Africa and Sweden, mining forms the backbone of both countries’ economies and, therefore, knowledge-sharing in this field can be of great importance in terms of developing a better understanding of safety, skills and sustainability challenges in their respective mining environments.

This was highlighted by Ambassador of Sweden to South Africa Anders Hagelberg, at the Safety, Skills and Sustainability in Mining conference, in Johannesburg, on Thursday.

The conference focused on how the efforts to improve safety, develop skills, facilitate longevity and sustainability, as well as increase profitability and efficiency in the mining sector.

It aimed to foster profitable and sustainable business, lower accident rates, better occupational health, lower environmental impact, positive social impact and technology, leadership and methodology sharing between the two countries.

The conference also marked the establishment of the Swedish–Southern African Mining Initiative, which aims to create a platform for knowledge sharing and networking between Swedish and South African mining role-players.

Hagelberg believed that the formation of close relationships between the Southern African and Swedish mining industries would prove mutually beneficial and hoped that the South Africa and Sweden could foster joint developments in mining to further mining activities in both countries.

Further, the Binational Commission between South Africa and Sweden also provided a platform to discuss challenges and opportunities in the respective mining sectors.

Meanwhile, Business Sweden Southern Africa market unit manager Olov Hemström highlighted the common opportunities and challenges, as well as the differences, between the two countries.

For example, South Africa has one of the world's largest mining industries, while Sweden's mining industry is still small but accounts for 12% of investment in that country.

"Today, 40 mines in northern Sweden are producing about 50-million tons a year of ore," added Hagelberg.

In terms of challenges, Southern Africa faced the challenge of poor labour-employer dialogue in some areas, while, in Sweden, there was relatively good dialogue between labour organisations and employers.

Further, while Sweden had access to a trained workforce, Southern Africa had world-class skills but these skills were wider spread than in Sweden.

In terms of mineral value, Sweden had less high-value minerals when compared with those in Southern Africa.

Hemström pointed out that, while the hosting of this conference was the first step in the Swedish–Southern African Mining Initiative, it will not be the last, and subsequent steps included academia and institutional exchange, labour organisations exchange, government political dialogue and possible knowledge exchange on relocating cities and communities around mines, which has been undertaken in Sweden.

Business Sweden also hopes to host follow-up seminars and conferences in other sub-Saharan African countries.

Attendees at the conference included representatives from mining houses, research institutes, government departments and suppliers.