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ACID MINE DRAINAGE IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH A

FOCUS ON MINE WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE WITWATERSRAND GOLD MINING

AREADEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS

MBANGI NEPFUMBADAMARIUS KEET

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Content of the Presentation

• Acid Mine Drainage (AMD): The Bigger Picture;

• Concerns And Risks Associated With AMD;

• The Witwatersrand AMD Challenge; and

• The Way Forward.

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What is Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)?

Acid generation is caused by the exposure of rock containing certain sulphide minerals, most commonly iron pyrite (FeS2),

with air and water, resulting in the production of highly acidified water containing elevated concentrations of

sulphate and metals.

AMD is largely associated with gold & coal mining.

Potentially AMD Producing Mines in South Africa

• Affected industries– Gold– Coal– Base metals

• Affected areas– Witwatersrand

and other goldfields

– Coalfields (Mpumalanga, KZN)

– O’Kiep Copper District

Existing and New Mining Activities

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Concerns and Risks Associated with AMD (1)

• AMD associated with low PH, high sulphate, elevated levels of heavy metals, radio activity;

• Biggest environmental challenge ever;

• Negative impacts on quality of water resources (Ground and Surface); and

• Flooding and Decanting.

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• Inter mine migration of mine water is threatening operational safety;

• Derelict and ownerless mines may become the responsibility of the state;

• Instability of geology (sinkhole formation);• Seismic effects; and• Destroying ecosystems and heritage sites.

Concerns and Risks Associated with AMD (2)

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AMD and Coal Mining; Mpumalanga

• Mpumalanga produces 80% of our coal;

• Most abandoned mines decanting AMD;

• Capacity to dilute waste discharge is limited

E.g. in Olifants River salts will have to be removed soon; and

• Komati and Upper Vaal have many new applications for

mining.

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Acid Mine Drainage in KZN

• Majority of mines in KZN are Coal Mines;

• Most Coal Mines are abandoned and Defunct;

• Most abandoned mines decanting AMD; and

• Existing Coal Mines generate AMD but measures are taken

to treat AMD.

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Addressing the AMD Problem with Coal Mines

• Introduce Integrated Water Resources Management:– Involvement of all stakeholders: CMAs, WMAs, river forums

(e.g. Olifants River Forum), mines, local authorities and other relevant departments;

• Stop illegal mining and implement stricter control on discharges (exploration already stopped on 5 mines);

• 3 Year project to identify pollution sources in Olifants; Treatment of AMD to potable Standards, two plants already built: New Optimum and Emalahleni AMD treatment plants;

• DWA refurbished Brug Spruit water treatment works.

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The Witwatersrand Acid Mine Drainage Challenge

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The Witwatersrand AMD Challenge

• Witwatersrand divided into 4 underground Basins;• Eastern Basin; Nigel to Germiston;• Central Basin; Germiston to Roodepoort (including

Johannesburg);• Western Basin; Krugersdorp to Randfontein; and• Far Western Basin; Westonarea to Carletonville.

Major Mining Basins in the Witwatersrand

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Background (1)

• Mining started more than 100 years ago;

• De-watering to explore reserves;

• No environmental laws;

• Uncontrolled slime deposits;

• Uncontrolled releases; and

• No in-stream water quality standards.

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Background (2)

• 100 Years later;

• Re-watering;

• Newly formed voids filling up;

• AMD formation;

• Integrity of geology; and

• Decanting.

East Rand Basin Groundwater Model

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Situation in the Eastern Basin

• Grootvlei is the last mine pumping from the Basin;• Water level is currently 700 m below the surface;• Financial problems caused failure to meet license

conditions;• Sub-standard effluent is contaminating a Ramsar- Wetland;• Pumping station can be flooded in 30 days if stopped;• Decanting then probable in the town of Nigel; and• Department has taken legal action.

Groundwater Inflow Components

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Situation in the Central Basin• Pumping had to stop in October 2008 due to safety risks;• Water level is now at about 600 m below the surface;• Water is expected to raise by 600 to 900 mm per day;• Mines would like to secure their reserves at 400 m below;• The Environmental Critical Level is proposed at 150 m

below; • Groundwater contamination and decanting below

Johannesburg CBD can have catastrophic consequences; • A new pumping station and upgrades to the high density

sludge treatment works are urgently required to stop disaster.

Central Basin Water Levels During Pumping

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Situation in the Western Basin (1)

• AMD started decanting in 2002;

• Department issued directives to the Mines to pump and treat;

• Mines established section 21 companies to address AMD;

• Pumping & treatment infrastructure exists, though mines have limited capacity; and

• Due to ownerless and derelict mines not all Mines are participating.

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Situation in the Western Basin (2)

• Heavy rains since January 2010 resulted in uncontrolled AMD decant;

• DWA intervened by allocating R6,9 M over three months period;

• Lack of treatment capacity compelled in- stream treatment as short term intervention; and

• Challenges with sludge in Tweelopies Spruit.

LocalityLocality

Sterkfontien Caves

Harmony Mine Decanting

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Situation Elsewhere

• Far Western Basin: mines are operational and no risks yet;

and

• KOSH Basin: Mining companies working together on pumping and a water utility company will be launched to continue with pumping.

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Proposed Initiatives: Central Basin

• Financial support is needed for pumping station & HDS works;

• Directives stipulating pump volumes can be considered;

• It will take 13 months to establish the pumps at 400 m below;

• Mines are prepared to fund pumping below 400 m;

• Estimated costs for pumping station and to refurbish the high density sludge treatment works are estimated at R180mil; and

• Government still to consider extent to contribution.

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Proposed Initiatives: Western Basin

• DWA considering further intervention (immediate and short

term);

• Possibility of diverting decant to Central Basin or treatment at

source;

• Centralised pumping and treatment may save costs; and

• Pumps & pipelines for this option: R 40 M.

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The Way Forward

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State’s Liabilities at Strategic Level

• Complex decisions needs to be made, requiring much information;

• DWA do not have access to all the required information;

• DWA doing a project with DMR to collate information, specifically on the State’s liabilities; and

• More information from mines will facilitate the alignment between DWA and DMR strategies and best practice guidelines.

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AMD: The Role of DMRDMR’s role is defined by the Mining and Petroleum

Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002

This act also deals with pollution caused by mining activities in sections 38 and 43, the latter providing for mining closure certificates which

requires an approved closure plan and an environmental risk report, both aimed at ensuring that, amongst others, water resources are

rehabilitated to standards that conforms to the concept of sustainable development. There are also several regulations setting out the details of

such a plan.

Within the mining basins, some of the mines may be classified as derelict and ownerless, or in terms of section 46 (1) of the MPRD, may become

the responsibility of the State.

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A Proposed Public Private Partnership

• A DWA proposal to establish a PPP was accepted in principle

by the GTT;

• PPP based on both Government & mines contributing to the

capital costs of infrastructure for pumping and treatment;

• A new or existing state agency will be required;

• This approach can also include emerging mines; and

• Such a model will clarify roles and responsibilities.

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Developments

• Mines through the Western Utilities Corporation (WUC) made

a proposal to the GTT to address AMD management;

• Proposal not accepted by DWA due to inter alia; unsolicited

bid and financial support required to subsidize private

company to enable profit making; and

• Mines requested to submit a new proposal to deal with short

medium and long term sustainable solutions.

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Recent Developments (1)

• 14 July 2010; Mines submitted new proposal to deal with

AMD;

• Due to the looming crisis in the Witwatersrand with AMD,

decisions on the management of AMD need to be made soon;

• DWA busy with Position Paper on AMD; and

• Proposal to establish a Program Steering Committee in DWA.

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Recent Developments (2)

• Joint proposal by DWA & DMR on a new inter-departmental team of senior executives to oversee the whole process;

• Proposed members:– Dept of Water and Environmental Affairs– Dept of Mineral Resources– National Treasury– Dept of Science and Technology– Council of Geosciences– CSIR– Cities of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni

Possible StructureEnvironmental Minmac:

Coordination of Outcome 10: Environmental Assets & Natural resources

Output 3: Sustainable Environmental Management

Inter Departmental Senior Executive Committee

on Acid Mine Drainage

Project SteeringCommitteeLegal Task Team

NationalCommunication

Program

Project Manager

Specialist Task Team

ImplementationTeam

OperationalTeam

MonitoringTeam

Public Engagement

Team

National Government

Technical Task Team

Supporting structures

Monitoring structures

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Thank You