EMP - EIA - Sentula Mining

EIA/EMP Report: Nkomati Anthracite (Pty) Limited
contaminated areas. Dirty water from contaminated areas will be collected via drains and
diverted to a return water dam. This water will be utilised for dust suppression.
No polluted water treatment plant exists at Nkomati Anthracite Mine.
Water made in the opencast and underground mining area will be pumped to a return water
dam. The return water dam has a surface area of 11 000 m 2 and an average depth of 2,0
meters with a 0,5-meter freeboard. Thus the system has a maximum capacity of 23 827 m 3 .
Slurry from the plant is gravitated to three slurry dams. These slurry dams are used in
series. Full dams are laid dry to allow for cleaning and sale of the slurry.
All water from the slurry dams is captured in a return water dam and recycled to the plant.
The slurry and return water dams are not lined.
The following water use activities in terms of Section 21 of the National Water Act of 1998
have been identified:
• 21(a): Taking water from a water resource – abstraction of borehole water.
• 21(f): Discharging water containing waste through a French drain – usage septic
tank.
• 21(g): Disposing of waste in a manner that may detrimentally impact on a water
resource – disposal of coal discard on a discard dump and disposal of mine affected
water in a return water dam and slurry dams.
• 21(j): Removing and disposal of water found underground to necessitate for
efficient continuation of mining activities – pumping and disposing of seepage water
from opencast and underground workings.
Applications for the identified Water Use Licenses activities will be made and submitted to the
Mpumalanga Regional offices of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
Potable Water Plant
Water for office and general use is obtained from a borehole next to the offices. The borehole
is 24 meters deep and apparently yields water with a poor taste (typical of water from Dwyka
Tillite formations). Water for drinking purposes is carted to the mining area.
Process water supply
Process water is obtained from the old worked out mining pits. The mining pits are indicated
on the surface layout plan.
Mineral Processing Plant
The existing coal beneficiation plant and its related structures will be used.
Mineral processing is conducted in the coal washing plant.
This plant consists of two stages:
A crushing plant.
A coal preparation plant.
The crushing plant consists of a double roll crusher and a double deck-vibrating screen. No
water is used in this stage of the washing plant.
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