The members of this team have been conducting research into possible ways of approaching mine closures from several angles. Research varies from adding value while treating acid mine drainage through biomining, evaluating sustainable development in the context of mines preparing for closure, evaluating the legal requirements to facilitate mine transformation and investigating the economic complexity required to grow the South African economy beyond primary resource extraction (DPRU). Together, a recent publication argues that Green Mining is indeed possible: Green Mining: Beyond the Myth, Perspectives on the Future of Mining, Caroline Digby, Dee Bradshaw, Hanri Mostert and Brian Chicksen (eds), Juta Law, ISBN9781485127055, 2018.

more references:

Bhorat, H., Kanbur, R., Rooney, C. and Steenkamp, F. 2017. Sub-Saharan Africa's Manufacturing Sector: Building Complexity. Working Paper Series No. 256. African Development Bank Group: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Bhorat, H., Steenkamp, F. & Rooney, R. 2016. Chapter 5: Understanding the determinants of Africa’s manufacturing malaise. In Income Inequality Trends in Sub-Saharan Africa. A. Odusola, G.A. Cornia, Bhorat, B. & P. Conceição, Eds. New York: United National Development Programme, Regional Bureau for Africa.