Presidential address: Has the South African narrow reef mining industry learnt how to change? - Synopsis

The South African narrow reef hard rock mining industry has been stuck in a time warp with relatively little change in the mining process in the last century. This paper presents a methodology on how to implement change in narrow reef hard rock mining. It then explores a number of technologies that have been introduced into this mining industry and the impact that they have had on the mining process. The author then presents his view on whether the defined change process has been followed and sets out to identify the most critical aspect of ensuring that change is successfully implemented. Future demand will also be speculated on.