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Environmental Protection

Dust control systems ensure environmental protection

3rd March 2023 Bulk materials handling specialist BLT WORLD’s team works closely with German conveyor solutions provider ScrapeTec to offer the mining sector in Africa advanced solutions for conveyor systems used in the handling of coal. “The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way business is done and will... →

Refuse-derived fuels helpful in waste management

3rd March 2023 The mining industry at large is embracing change and finding new ways to integrate innovative waste management strategies into its operations. There are various mines mitigating risks by conducting comprehensive environment impact assessments (EIAs) and implementing sustainable solutions for the... →

Tailings re-mining to ramp up in 2023

By: Leah Shelene Asaram 3rd March 2023 JSE-listed platinum group metals (PGMs) producer Impala Platinum’s (Implats’) Rustenburg operation, in the North West province, has been re-mining tailings from its dormant tailings dams 1 and 2, consequently enabling the miner to exploit a large-scale recycling opportunity while enhancing PGM... →

Consultancy offers holistic solutions for decarbonisation

3rd March 2023 Decarbonisation on mines featured high on the agenda at a recent global partners meeting in Johannesburg, Gauteng, says international mining consultancy firm SRK Consulting, which hosted a special workshop dedicated to this topic last year. Mining is currently responsible for 4% to 7% of... →

An image of SRK Consulting Principal Mining Engineer David Pearce

DAVID PEARCE The mining industry has embraced the challenge to reduce emissions and is investing significant amounts of money and effort in new solutions

Satellite data used in new tailings solution

3rd March 2023 Tokyo-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data and solutions provider Synspective and London-based risk management platform Insight Terra have entered into a strategic partnership to deliver a new space-enabled data and monitoring solution for the mining industry. The solution uses... →

Current climate regulations not driving change fast enough

By: Leah Shelene Asaram 3rd March 2023 Carbon-related regulation is increasing worldwide, alongside increased public scrutiny and demand for emissions reporting, specifically for large emitters, such as mining and related industries, observes business consultancy Emergent Africa sustainability solutions lead Lee Swan. Targets and... →

ICMM works towards ‘nature-positive’ mining

By: Leah Shelene Asaram 3rd March 2023 Mining industry supports Global Biodiversity Framework Global organisation International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) members have, through its mining principles, committed to pursue continual improvement in environmental performance and to conserve biodiversity. →

An image of ICMM environment director Hayley Zipp

Photo by UN Biodiversity flikr account
HAYLEY ZIPP If a number of mining companies followed suit, the scale of our contribution towards the restoration targets of the GBF would be substantial

Richard Summers Inc.

2nd March 2023 Environmental law plays a critical role in achieving the global imperative of securing ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources, while promoting justifiable economic and social development. As one of South Africa’s leading environmental law firms, Richard Summers Inc.... →

Filter press installation nearing completion

By: Halima Frost 4th March 2022 Local anthracite producer Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) is installing a filter press at its coal washing plant, in Emakhalathini, KwaZulu-Natal. The filter press will remove slurry from the water used in the coal washing process and prevent incidents such as the 1 500 m3 coal slurry spill,... →

Three slurry dams next to each other at the Zululand Anthracite Colliery owned by Menar that shows an embankment and berm which were constructed hours after a wall failure

DAMAGE CONTROL The spill area at the Zululand Anthracite Colliery was sealed off with an earth embankment and a berm

Kimberlite research could help reverse emissions

By: Halima Frost 4th March 2022 Global diamond corporation Alrosa Group is working with Russia’s leading research centres to study the carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption capabilities of kimberlite to determine whether it could eventually be used to completely offset the company’s greenhouse-gas emissions. The results from the... →

A pile of kimberlite stones which are the general ore from which diamonds are mined

ABSORBING RESEARCH Alrosa's Research has shown that kimberlite ore absorbs emissions when subject to standard mining operations which use water in the processes

Designs evolving to meet new outcomes

4th March 2022 Owing to the latest tailings dam standards demanding a longer-term view of design, construction and closure outcomes, a growing interest in design philosophies that incorporate shapes and processes as they exist in nature has been experienced, says SRK Consulting principal civil engineer in mine... →

SRK Consulting principal civil engineer in mine closure Justin Walls in portrait image

JUSTIN WALLS Engineers are increasingly looking to learn from natural analogues, so that they can better emulate these more sustainable designs and structures

Solar plant to be commissioned by May

By: Halima Frost 4th March 2022 The first photovoltaic (PV) solar plant to be completed and commissioned by a mining company in South Africa is on track to produce 100% steady-state power generation by May, says midtier gold producer Pan African Resources investor relations head Hethen Hira. The PV plant is being built by Pan... →

A large solar plant at the Evander mine, which should be extended even further, subject to regulatory approval

GAINING GROUND One of the first solar plants to be commissioned by a mining house will be expanded to produce more renewable energy

Company reduces environmental risk through greener blasts

26th February 2021 For over three decades, chemicals manufacturer Omnia Holdings’ subsidiary Bulk Mining Explosives (BME) has been incorporating used oil in its emulsion explosives, making blasting greener and reducing environmental risk. Consequently, the company is the leading consumer of used oil in the... →

Association develops new audit programme

26th February 2021 Industry association the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) is in the process of completely redeveloping its renowned environmental audit system, creating a robust new system that is more user friendly and better aligned with the requirements of smaller-scale... →

ESG principles integral to addressing carbon tax challenges

26th February 2021 Attracting new investment will increasingly depend on having a strong environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) culture, and mines aiming to reduce their carbon footprint through capital-intensive technology programmes will thus need to implement better ESG programmes to help raise... →

BALANCING ACT
Linking ESG priorities to operations’ short-term viability is complex, and a careful balancing act is needed for mines to attract and retain investors

Photo by Adobe
BALANCING ACT Linking ESG priorities to operations’ short-term viability is complex, and a careful balancing act is needed for mines to attract and retain investors

Environmental trend spurs green financing

By: Creamer Media Reporter 26th February 2021 The green financing market is gaining traction in South Africa, says law firm ENSafrica natural resources and environment senior associate Mihlali Sitefane. Green financing promotes the funding of projects that contribute to sustainable development by requiring the integration of social, economic... →

Policy crucial to decarbonisation

By: Cameron Mackay 20th March 2020 The local mining industry, while dealing with challenges stemming from production decline over the past few years, is witnessing an evolving regulatory landscape, particularly with the development of an integrated carbon and air-quality regulatory framework. According to the Intergovernmental... →

SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES The industry faces challenges to reduce emissions given associated financial implications, including the impact on capital and operational efficiency

Mine haul roads can reduce emissions, costs

By: Cameron Mackay 20th March 2020 Having researched the design and management of opencast mine haul roads locally and globally for the past 30 years, retired University of Pretoria civil engineering professor Alex Visser highlights a specific road construction system for mine haul roads which can reduce fuel emissions and save... →

PAVING THE WAY

If roads are not constructed properly, undulations can form, increasing rolling resistance. This can cause increased diesel fumes from trucks and health and safety risks

Photo by Bloomberg
PAVING THE WAY If roads are not constructed properly, undulations can form, increasing rolling resistance. This can cause increased diesel fumes from trucks and health and safety risks

Company provides local mining carbon tax solution

By: Cameron Mackay 20th March 2020 Information technology (IT) solutions provider EDS Systems, a subsidiary of Economic Development Solutions (EDS), is set to provide a cloud-based IT solution to help local miners calculate and comply with the Carbon Tax Act regulations. EDS provides services to the local mining,... →

FRANCOIS DU PLESSIS We are trying to create a basic environment for organisations to capture emissions according to the Act and display that in a simplistic, Web-based environment

Kangra awaits licence approvals

By: Cameron Mackay 20th March 2020 Local coal miner Kangra Coal is planning an extension to its Savmore/Maquasa coal mining operation, in Mpumalanga, with Kangra Coal environmental specialist Niketiwe Dlamini noting that the company is awaiting the approval and issuing of the necessary environmental licences. The miner is required... →

NIKETIWE DLAMINI As a main contributor to our GDP and as an extractive industry, mining has environmental and community impacts, hence the importance of environmental impact assessments

Gold surface tailings re-treater increases environmental spend

By: Thabi Madiba 22nd March 2019 South African gold producer DRDGOLD is continuing its progress on environmental initiatives, having increased its environmental spend by 23% to R51.6-million for the 2018 financial year. Total spending of R24.9-million in the first six months of the 2019 financial year was 28% higher than the... →

HARD AT WORK DRDGOLD reclaims and retreats gold mining waste – mine dumps – of previous miners

EIA recommendations essential for new mining projects

By: Thabi Madiba 22nd March 2019 It is crucial for mining companies to consider the recommendations of all the environmental impact assessments (EIAs) before the start of any new mining projects, says waste management solutions provider Interwaste business development and marketing director Kate Stubbs. Her statement follows the... →

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Mining has a large environmental impact that affects not only the health and wellbeing of mining communities

Photo by Bloomberg
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Mining has a large environmental impact that affects not only the health and wellbeing of mining communities

Recovery process aiding cyanide detox

By: Thabi Madiba 22nd March 2019 To assist mining companies in managing and recovering cyanide, engineering consultancy AZMET Technology & Projects developed the AZMET cyanide recovery process (AZ-CRP) to provide an alternative to cyanide detoxification. AZMET’s focus is to provide a simpler and more cost-effective solution for... →

Industry adopting more sustainable approaches to mining activities

By: Thabi Madiba 22nd March 2019 As water balances are being calculated more precisely, the principles of reducing, reusing and recycling water are being adopted more strictly, as is the separation of clean from dirty water on mines. Consulting engineering firm WSP environment and energy senior associate Karen King states that... →

WASTE REDUCTION Using cleaner production techniques, environmental control technologies and process re-engineering can further reduce waste output of mines

Photo by Creamer Media
WASTE REDUCTION Using cleaner production techniques, environmental control technologies and process re-engineering can further reduce waste output of mines

AZMET Technology & Projects

22nd March 2019 AZMET is a multi-disciplinary engineering and project management company specialising in the design and implementation of hydrometallurgical processing plants all over the world. AZMET’s industry knowledge and experience, linked to a sound, fundamental understanding of metallurgical processes,... →

Lubritech Manufacturing

22nd March 2019 Level 2 broad-based black economic- empowerment company, Lubritech Manu-facturing specialises in hydrocarbon contamination solutions by managing and controlling contamination at the source. A rise in mechanised mining has led to an increased use of oil and grease, with a resultant impact on... →

Provider ensures sustainability in CO2-intensive industry

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 23rd March 2018 With a high carbon footprint characterising the global cement industry, supplier of construction materials and technical solutions AfriSam is continuously advancing sustainable practices to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in mining operations and cement manufacturing processes, and has... →

QUARRYING FAVOUR To mine limestone in the ecologically sensitive Saldanha Vredenburg area, AfriSam is placing more than 150 ha of this property into environmental status

Software solution aids tailings management

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 23rd March 2018 Governance, risk and compliance software supplier IsoMetrix has developed the IsoMetrix tailings management solution (TMS) to specifically enable mining operations to manage their tailings storage facilities (TSFs) more effectively and responsively, as these are inherently environmentally risky,... →

POWERFUL FEATURE IsoMetrix Tailings Management Solution’s built-in dashboard capabilities are configurable and provide visible data customisable to the user profile

Sustainable management of risks gains traction

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 23rd March 2018 Amid a range of land contamination issues in South Africa, mining houses are increasingly adapting their operations to be more holistic to curb environmental risks and create meaningful value for local stakeholders while achieving their objectives. Engineering consultancy WSP Africa environment... →

HAZARDOUS The impacts of land contamination can be significant and widespread for mine operations, leading to high costs

Clay mine aims to expand output to 2086

By: Johane Turkstra 24th March 2017 Feedback from the Mineral Resources Minister on whether the expansion of clay brick company Era Bricks’ southern clay quarry can proceed is expected in the second quarter of this year. Era Bricks is looking to expand the quarry on the Rietvalei farm near Delmas, in Mpumalanga, extending the... →

Photo by Bloomberg
SIGNIFICANT EXTENSION Era Bricks is looking to extend its southern clay quarry project’s life-of-mine to 2086 through phases

Greater demand for credible, local testing spurs growth

By: Johane Turkstra 24th March 2017 Local environmental laboratory X-Lab Earth Science plans to expand its support for air-quality testing companies servicing the mining and minerals industry as demand grows for accredited data analysis in this sector. X-Lab MD Quentin Hurt attributes the increasing demand for its services to... →

INTEREST GROWING There has been a substantial interest in air quality testing as there have been numerous high-profile issues that have developed around South Africa

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