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OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF MINING ON THE ... - IIED pubs

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4.4.2 Mining and mineral processing operations<br />

Two mining operations are located in this sub-catchment (Table 4.5). The Selibe-Phikwe copper-nickel mine is<br />

the largest base metal mine in Botswana.<br />

Table 4.5: Mining operations in the Motloutse sub-catchment.<br />

Code<br />

Number<br />

Name of Mine<br />

Commodity (ies)<br />

Mined<br />

ccxxv<br />

Status Relative<br />

Size<br />

Bots-3 Bobonong Coal Operating Medium Low<br />

Bots-4 Selibe Phikwe Nickel, Copper Operating Large Medium<br />

4.4.3 Alluvial mining<br />

None known.<br />

4.4.4 Monitoring systems<br />

Probable<br />

Impact<br />

One flow-gauging site is located on the Motloutse River upstream of the town of Selibe-Phikwe. The Botswana<br />

Department of Water Affairs conducts regular monitoring of water quality in all the water supply dams, as well<br />

as water supplied to towns, mines and smaller communities from the North-South Pipeline. The geohydrology<br />

section within the Department of water Affairs also tests borehole water quality at regular intervals.<br />

4.4.5 Water quality data<br />

None obtainable in time for this report, but data are available from the Botswana Department of Water Affairs.<br />

4.4.6 Implications for water quality and quantity management<br />

Medium-scale impacts can be anticipated from the Selibe-Phikwe copper-nickel mine and its smelter, in terms of<br />

elevated concentrations of suspended solids, total dissolved salts, copper, nickel and sulphate. Very small<br />

localized impacts of acid mine drainage can also be anticipated. Impacts from the Bobonong Colliery are<br />

expected to be very small and localized in extent.<br />

4.5 The Shashe-Tuli (Botswana and Zimbabwe) sub-catchment

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