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Public disclosure of mine closures by listed South African mining companies

Author

Listed:
  • Cornelie Crous
  • John R. Owen
  • Lochner Marais
  • Samkelisiwe Khanyile
  • Deanna Kemp

Abstract

The demand for transparency in the mining sector has increased since the 1980s. Our study focused on the public reporting of four South African mining corporations and their disclosures on mine closure. South Africa was identified based on its history of mine abandonment. We found that reporting on mainstream environmental and financial matters, companies disclose little about the social aspects of mine closure. External reporting norms have evolved, with a widening scope of reporting themes presented in strategically parsimonious language. Reporting themes speak to where companies, and transparency initiatives, receive greatest external interest and much of the content in company sustainability reports appear to service this demand. This pattern is manifestly challenging for the social aspects of mine closure, where reporting is minimal and reveals little about the timing of proposed changes to the mine lifecycle, the anticipated societal effects, and how the company will address these.

Suggested Citation

  • Cornelie Crous & John R. Owen & Lochner Marais & Samkelisiwe Khanyile & Deanna Kemp, 2021. "Public disclosure of mine closures by listed South African mining companies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(3), pages 1032-1042, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:28:y:2021:i:3:p:1032-1042
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.2103
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Emeka Ndaguba & Lochner Marais, 2024. "A scientometric analysis of mine closure research," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(11), pages 27787-27803, November.
    2. Sesele, Kentse & Marais, Lochner & van Rooyen, Deidre, 2021. "Women and mine closure: A case study of policy in South Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    3. Monday Nweke Igwe & Saleh F. A. Khatib & Ayman Hassan Bazhair, 2023. "Sustainability reporting in Africa: A systematic review and agenda for future research," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5), pages 2081-2100, September.
    4. Thaís Vieira Nunhes & Maximilian Espuny & Thalita Lauá Reis Campos & Gilberto Santos & Merce Bernardo & Otávio José Oliveira, 2022. "Guidelines to build the bridge between sustainability and integrated management systems: A way to increase stakeholder engagement toward sustainable development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1617-1635, September.

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