[miningmx.com] — GOVERNMENT would need in excess of R1bn to deal with acid mine drainage on the Witwatersrand, while a business plan for its strategy would be ready in July.
Responding to questions by DA MPs Sandy Kalyan and Gareth Morgan on Tuesday, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa said dealing with acid mine drainage would require more than the R225m which was budgeted for in the current financial year.
“The costing for this financial year…. of R225m will help us deal with this problem,’ said Molewa. “For the following year… we can now guess that the final figure for these three basins will require something more than a billion rand. Definitely, it will depend on the solutions that are proposed.’
Molewa said she appointed the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) in April to conduct emergency works at all three basins on the Witwatersrand. The scope of the work which has to be undertaken includes the installation of pumps to extract water from the mines to on-site treatment plants, the construction or refurbishing of on-site treatment plants, as well as the installation of infrastructure to convey treated water to nearby watercourses.
In its turn, TCTA appointed Golder Associates Africa as a service provider, which would complete a due diligence and business plan for each basin by July 7.
“.particularly in the area of the western basin, we have begun with the implementation of the immediate solution that will reduce or even completely eradicate the surface decant in this basin,’ said Molewa.
“Our department is monitoring the rate of mine water rise in the eastern basin on a continuous basis. We are also in contact with the liquidators (of Pamodzi Gold). In the central basin.TCTA is dealing with the due diligence.’
Meanwhile, Rand Uranium CEO John Munro told parliament much faster action was needed to deal with acid mine drainage, Sapa reported
“There’s been a huge amount of work done and a lot of talk and engagement, but we aren’t acting on the ground fast enough,’ he told the National Assembly’s water and environmental committee during public hearings on the matter.
Munro said it was counter-productive to look for culprits, as many existing operators were new in the area.
“They simply could not have created this problem. As a result, burdening these new companies with the sins of the past is simply unsustainable. These companies will collapse.’
Munro said acid mine water could become a valuable resource – potable water.
“If we do that, we believe an economically viable business can be created. This business can attract external funding,’ he said.
“If we can attract independent capital to this problem, make it an attractive business for them, there needn’t be reliance on the state or mining companies.’
