Sustainability Report 2012 - Transnet

Environmental dividends (continued)Water use efficiencyIn a water scarce country, we need to ensure that we utilisewater efficiently and effectively throughout our operations.While water use efficiency has been initiated at some ofTransnet’s operational sites, we need reliable metering systems,specific targets and an agreed plan for water use efficiencythroughout the business. In 2012/13 Transnet will improve itsmonitoring of water consumption, analyse trends, and developplans to reduce consumption and prevent water wastage.Approved plans will be implemented thereafter.Waste management optimisationThe promulgation of the National Environmental Management:Waste Act No 59 of 2008 has placed various responsibilities onwaste generators. Transnet’s operations and processes generatea variety of waste materials as by-products.Transnet is committed to developing sustainable ways tomanage and dispose of this waste. Opportunities for wasterecycling will be given further attention in the year ahead.Iron ore travelling on conveyerCurrent important waste management initiatives includethe following:Asbestos clean-upThe most significant contamination challenge addressed during2011/12 concerned legacy asbestos issues in rail operatingareas. Asbestos contamination has occurred in two ways:historic spillages during the transportation of asbestos frommines; and the historical use of asbestos products in buildings.A register of buildings containing asbestos is maintained byTransnet Property and reviewed annually to ensure that there isno exposure that has occurred that will create an obligation asrequired by legislation. Environmental conditions such as windsand rains have, over time, been contributing to the spread ofasbestos fibres in a number of operational areas and along therailway lines. In 2011/12 Transnet committed R788 million tocleaning up this asbestos legacy of which only R23 million wasspent. This slow progress is attributed to a new regulatoryprocess involving environmental approvals and waste licencesfor rehabilitation of the sites.Workers at Port of Richards BayFreight Rail committed a total of R450 million to cleaning upasbestos spills and contamination by 2015/16. Most of theclean-up was undertaken in the Northern Cape, in response toasbestos exposure that interfered with infra-maintenance –asbestos that was buried and uncovered during the removal ofrail line, sleepers and ballast. The exposure was remediated incompliance with the requirements of the Occupational Health and74