Budget to tackle mine acid
Article By: Paul Vecchiatto
Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:58
The cost to clear up the acid mine drainage in the areas around Johannesburg will be released in Wednesday's national Budget by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
Cabinet was also considering an environmental levy for such cases.
Minister in the Presidency for National Planning Trevor Manuel said this at a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, when he also indicated that the long-awaited report would be released on the Department of Water Affairs' website on Thursday.
Manuel, who was accompanied by Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Godfrey Oliphant, emphasised that there was no need to panic and that plans were well underway to contain and eliminate the acid water that has been seeping to the surface from operational and disused mines.
Acid mine water drainage affects three geological basins on the Witwatersrand - the hub of SA's gold mining sector.
Manuel and experts said there was no immediate threat from either the Eastern or Central Basins as the water was 700 metres and 500 metres respectively below the surface. However, the Western Basin was showing signs of risk and this was where pumping of water and its neutralisation would begin.
In the briefing notes, Cabinet noted that the team of experts on the inter-ministerial committee made the following recommendations: implementing ingress control measures to reduce the rate of flooding and the eventual decanting and pumping volume; reducing costs to deal with acid mine drainage; improving water quality management; removal of salt loads from river systems to be considered in the medium to long term; improving monitoring and undertaking research to inform decision making and managing and monitoring other acid mine drainage sources within the Witwatersrand Basin.
Manuel said the issue of an environmental levy was a complex one as in some cases the mines were already treating water.
Cabinet was also considering an environmental levy for such cases.
Minister in the Presidency for National Planning Trevor Manuel said this at a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, when he also indicated that the long-awaited report would be released on the Department of Water Affairs' website on Thursday.
Manuel, who was accompanied by Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Godfrey Oliphant, emphasised that there was no need to panic and that plans were well underway to contain and eliminate the acid water that has been seeping to the surface from operational and disused mines.
Acid mine water drainage affects three geological basins on the Witwatersrand - the hub of SA's gold mining sector.
Manuel and experts said there was no immediate threat from either the Eastern or Central Basins as the water was 700 metres and 500 metres respectively below the surface. However, the Western Basin was showing signs of risk and this was where pumping of water and its neutralisation would begin.
In the briefing notes, Cabinet noted that the team of experts on the inter-ministerial committee made the following recommendations: implementing ingress control measures to reduce the rate of flooding and the eventual decanting and pumping volume; reducing costs to deal with acid mine drainage; improving water quality management; removal of salt loads from river systems to be considered in the medium to long term; improving monitoring and undertaking research to inform decision making and managing and monitoring other acid mine drainage sources within the Witwatersrand Basin.
Manuel said the issue of an environmental levy was a complex one as in some cases the mines were already treating water.
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