Water Conservation
60%
recycled water at Evander Mine
8,254,000 m3
rainwater collected & stored in 2020
13,417,000 m3
total water used by the Group in 2020
Water plays a central role in the business of Pan African Resources, and we are committed to conserving and recycling our water and reducing reliance on fresh water sources.
Our water conservation strategies:
- Ensuring compliance with water-use licence conditions and the approved Environmental Management Plan, in line with King IV guidelines
- Reducing water incidents and incidental overflow to minimise the impact on surrounding communities and the environment
- Recycling excess underground mine discharge water for reuse in our surface operations
- Ensuring all tailings storage facilities are lined and monitored according to the requirements of the Department of Water and Sanitation to prevent groundwater contamination
- Pan African is currently investigating two water treatment technologies, namely Ultra Filtration (UF) and Reverse Osmosis (RO), as a solution to recycling water that is pumped from underground workings, and once treated, can replace purchased water from the municipality (Rand Water), resulting in considerable cost savings
Find out how we’re Mining for a future
Water reuse and recycling
We take care to use water responsibly at our mines. Our operations at Barberton and Evander Mines have been rated as low risk to baseline water stress, drought severity and threatened amphibian species. This suggests our water withdrawals do not negatively affect local surface water bodies and that we are not withdrawing water from water stress regions.
Our mines are being equipped to continuously reuse recycled water and reduce the need for freshwater replenishment. This approach also reduces environmental and operational costs.
At Barberton Mines, a highly effective close-loop water recycling circuit reuses the bulk of the released groundwater and process water for other mining processes, including water supply in the tailings retreatment plants. Excess water is released into special purpose evaporation ponds, while rainwater is collected in tailings and pollution control dams and incorporated into the mine water system.
Reducing the amount of dirty water produced through the mining process reduces the need for freshwater extraction which, in turn, reduces energy costs from pumping and water treatment. Our mines are being equipped to continuously reuse recycled water and reduce the need for freshwater replenishment. This approach also reduces environmental and operational costs.
Water Withdrawal By Source
| Barberton Mines | Evander Mines | Group | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface water (including water from wetlands, river, lakes and oceans) | Unit | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Groundwater | 0 m2 | 1,452 | 386 | 1,515 | 3,461 | 2,967 | 3,847 |
| Rainwater collected directly and stored by PAR | 0 m2 | 2,106 | 1,296 | 6,148 | 5,960 | 8,254 | 7,256 |
| Municipal water supplies or other public or private water utilities | 0 m2 | - | - | 949 | 1,246 | 949 | 1,246 |
| Total water used for primary activity | 0 m2 | 3,556 | 2,698 | 9,859 | 10,671 | 13,417 | 13,369 |
| Recycled water (process) | % | 36 | 20 | 60 | 57 | n/a | n/a |
Compliance
Protecting Water Quality
Stringent environmental controls across our operations ensure local water bodies and related habitats are not negatively affected by our water discharges and run-off. We oversee an intensive monitoring programme for water quality and overall biological health, as well as a proactive storm water management strategy. Surface and groundwater samples are regularly taken and analysed according to our water-use licence requirements. River health reports are produced by an aquatic specialist twice a year.
Our tailings storage facilities are lined and monitored according to the requirements of the Department of Water & Sanitation, and we continuously monitor surrounding groundwater through independent sampling at a SANAS-accredited laboratory.
Community Partnerships
Find out more about Pan African Resources’ water conservation and water demand management plan.
Read more about our ESG projects:
Investing
A Deeper Look at PAR’s Elikhulu Operation
Investing
The History of Pan African Resources
Investing