Important progress has been made by the State in addressing the challenges regarding the impacts of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) and mine water in the Witwatersrand area. Cabinet approved the AMD Report on Mine Water Management in the Witwatersrand Gold Fields with Special Emphasis on Acid Mine Drainage, on 9 February 2011, and mandated the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Minister Edna Molewa to take the lead in the process dealing with AMD.
Minister Molewa appointed the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), on 6 April 2011, by means of a Ministerial Directive as the agent to implement the immediate and short term actions recommended in the AMD Report. The TCTA, a state-owned entity, has vast experience in water resource management such as the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Mooi-Mgeni Transfer Scheme and Berg Water Project.
The TCTA has been tasked with overseeing and implementing the following:
- Installation of pumps to extract water from the mines to onsite treatment plants and construction of an on-site mine water treatment plant in each basin. (The option for refurbishment of any existing plant owned by the mines may be considered).
- Installation of infrastructure to convey treated water to nearby watercourses and the facilitation of the best model, which shall be proposed to the DWA, for the operations of the pumping stations and the treatment works.
An Inter-Governmental Task Team, represented by all relevant State departments, was constituted to steer the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the AMD Report. Recent collaborative efforts between the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) and TCTA have resulted in an investigation of existing mine water treatment infrastructure in the Western and Central Basin mining areas, and of potential institutional arrangements with the mining companies that are active in these Basins.
The TCTA, by way of tender protocol, appointed a Professional Service Provider to provide an intensive appraisal of the available infrastructure and to formulate appropriate engineering options to adequately resolve the AMD problem.
The highest priority is being given to the development of solutions to reduce, if not eradicate, the surface decant of AMD in the West Rand area of the Western Basin. Also of high priority is the development of measures focused on ensuring that underground mine water levels in the Central Basin do not reach the Environmental Critical Level (a level that could threaten the environment). Pumps for the Central Basin have been procured and are set to be delivered by the end of July 2011. Other engineering requirements in terms of construction and electrical infrastructure will follow.
In the Eastern Basin, the DWA is awaiting final announcements by the liquidators that are administering the Aurora Mining Company. The situation is being closely monitored and, if no real solution is provided, Government intervention will be unavoidable.
Since the DWA has appointed TCTA and other Professional Service Providers to assist in implementing the recommendations made by the Cabinet-approved Team of Experts, constructive engagement with other stakeholders, such as NGOs and other interested and affected parties, is set to commence soon. An Authorities Committee that will deal with all the regulatory matters has also been established in order to optimise decision making relating to the various Regulations and Acts.
Mechanisms for ingress management in all the Basins will be commissioned in due course. The construction of the Florida Canal, a project that will improve ingress management in the Central Basin, is currently in process and needs to be extended to ensure reduction of surface water entering underground mine voids.
A Monitoring Committee has been established to implement and manage the monitoring of water quality and quantity ensuring that engineering decisions be made on reliable information. The Committee will for instance monitor the chemical quality of the AMD and the rate of rise in the various Basins. Regular feedback will be provided to the Implementing Agent.
The Team of Experts that prepared the AMD report has commenced with further work to identify information gaps and generate new statistics that will guide initiatives for the medium to long-term management of AMD on the Witwatersrand, and to validate the supplementary remedial measures that may be required.
The Department of Water Affairs will also appoint Professional Service Providers to assist with a feasibility study to determine the most efficient medium- to long-term use oftheAMD that is emanating from the mining Basins on the Witwatersrand.
The relevant departments are still investigating the implementation of an environmental levy.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau (Department of Water Affairs)
Cell: 082 874 2942
Zingaphi Jakuja (Department of Mineral Resources)
Cell: 082 766 3940
Thandi Mapukata (Trans-Caledon Transfer)
Cell: 083 632 0902
