1 Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs and Forestry 7 August 2006 Nikisi Lesufi Environmental Adviser Chamber of Mines of South Africa Tel: Fax: Water Quality and Security: Mining Industry Perspective

2 What is the Chamber of Mines Mining: Historical Context Mining and Water Quality Mining and Water Security: Some Perspectives Overview of Presentation

3 A premier mining sector employers’ organisation The principal advocate of mining policy positions endorsed by mining employers Exists today primarily to provide strategic support and advisory input to its members Members account for 90% of SA’s mineral production by value Chamber of Mines

4 Mining played a critical role in SA’s economic development, e.g. JHB from mining camp to a major African city Social legacies: –Labour relations, social and occupational health issues –Environmental footprint: land, soil sterilisation, biodiversity degradation and water impacts –Regulatory/Corporate inadequacies Mining: Historical Context

5 Typical Mining Environmental Issues

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7 Factors determining water quality impacts –Site characteristics –Amount & type of material moved –Depth of deposit, chemical composition of ore and surrounding rocks –Extraction process, environmental management practices and business philosophy Enforcement/Application of regulatory tools –Cooperative governance (DWAF,DME, DEAT) –Turn around time on authorisations –Properly capacitated DWAF regional and national offices Mining and Water Quality

8 Waste Rock Impacts

9 Evaporation Pans

10 Dams

11 Shaft Areas

12 Processing Plant

13 Historical factors –Dewatering –Mine dumps –Inter mine flow –Regulatory lag Current practices –Adequate regulatory tools in place: Insufficient enforcement –Cooperative management philosophies: Adoption of best international practice –Commitment to research and innovation technologies Mining and Water Quality:

14 Industry Activities to improve water quality –Regular liaison meeting with DWAF –Coaltech 20/20 initiatives –Participation in WRC Research Projects –Water Service Provision: Emalahleni –Participation in water forums Current Challenges –Historical legacies –Regulatory Overlaps –Turn around time on authorisations –Small scale mining Mining and Water Quality

15 Environmental challenges –Abandoned mine sites: Measures required to manage acid mine drainage –Inter mine flow: What happens when the last operating mine close? Threats to catchments? –Small scale mining Economic Considerations –PGM potential: water availability –Regulatory Overlaps –Turn around time on authorisations Mining and Water Security

16 Final Thought