From trapped to tap: Mine-water becomes a commidity

Abstract

WATER MANAGEMENT When travelling through the Highveld in Mpumalanga, there is no doubt why South Africa is the third-biggest coal producer in the world. Mine after mine tells of the legacy of this area, in which up to 90% of the country’s saleable coal is mined. However, more than a century of open-cast and underground mining has impacted on the surrounding environment. Coal mining has a significant effect on the hydrological cycle, with surface water working its way into underground voids and becoming polluted as it comes into contact with exposed sulphur-bearing pyrite. It is reported that the accumulation of water in active mines has already increased to the extent that it hampers mining activities and poses a potential safety risk. Where mining activities have ceased, the underground workings are filling with water. Collieries exploiting the Northern Witbank Coalfields have to continuously pump out this water to reach the coal seams.

Authors

Categories