[miningmx.com] — The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) would have plans in place to deal with the most critical aspects of acid mine drainage by December, but doubts over the future of Central Rand Gold (CRG) could thwart its strategy.
Marius Keet, DWA senior regional manager, told Miningmx on Wednesday all acid drainage decanting in the Western Basin – around 30 mega litres a day – would be partially treated by December. Rand Uranium has until now partially treated 12 mega litres daily, but would have an upgraded plant by end-December.
Partial treatment makes acid mine water pH neutral, a process which would also result in the precipitation of dissolved metals and contaminants.
Following a request to National Treasury to increase the budget for dealing with acid mine drainage from R225m to R924m, Keet said a tender process was now in place for the building of pump stations in both the Western and Eastern Basin. He said government’s aim was to stabilise water levels below the environmentally critical level of around 180m.
Keet, however, admitted that the DWA’s strategy for the Central Basin hinged on the future of the beleaguered CRG, which had its mining right cancelled in September for not giving effect to its operational and social plans. The company earlier said it would fight the decision in the High Court.
CRG had concluded a deal with the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), the state’s appointed project managers, to utilise CRG’s pumps to de-water and maintain the Central Basin.
The company had earlier ordered Ritz submersible pumps from Germany. CEO Johan du Toit told Miningmx the pumps wouldn’t be shipped to South Africa unless the company was allowed to continue mining.
Keet said he was hoping that the Department of Mineral Resources and CRG would find a solution. “There really is no other way to deal with this,’ he said.
Other aspects of TCTA’s plan for the Central Basin included the construction of a new high density sludge plant with a capacity of 84 million litres per day; the transfer of treated water via pipeline to Elsburg Spruit, as well as the disposal of sludge via dual lines in conjunction with DRDGold.
The water level in the Central Basin currently lies around 400m below surface.
As for the Eastern Basin, where water traditionally had been maintained at 700m below surface from Grootvlei’s No. 3 shaft, Keet said levels would not reach the environmental critical level prior to the construction and implementation of new pumping systems.
Grootvlei’s previous manager, Aurora Empowerment Systems, ceased pumping in January.
