L I N K I N G S C I E N C E , S O C I E T Y, B U I S N E S S A N D P O L I C Y F O R

S U S TA I N A B L E U S E O F A B A N D O N E D M I N E S I N S A D C R E G I O N

Cleaning up after mines long gone:

Understanding the complex dimensions

for inclusive development

Dr Shingirirai S Mutanga

28 - 30 November 2017

Senior Research Specialist

Science & Technology Programme

AISA-HSRC

S C I E N C E B U I S N E S S D I AL O G U E C O N F E R E N C E , I N D AB A H O T E L

Outline

• SDGs: Nexus

• Input for mineral Beneficiation

Introduction

• Impacts of Mining

• Emerging Trends

• Broadening the understanding: Complexity Science, Systems Thinking

The Challenge

• Land reclamation

• Water Resource Management

• Deriving benefits

Mine Clean Up Strategies

• Policy recommendation

Conclusion

Sustainable Development Goals

CLEAN WATER

&

SANITATION

More than 40%

of the global

population is

affected by

water scarcity

(UNDP, 2016a)

1.7 billion people are

currently living in river

basins whose water

use exceeds the

basin’s recharge

capacity

protect, restore and

promote sustainable use

of terrestrial ecosystems

• unprecedented

land degradation

and loss of arable

land at 30 to 35

times

• 15 to 30% Loss

in agriculture land

LIFE ON LAND

Mining Ramifications

• Post mining

• How bad is the challenge really?

• How did we get there?

Post Mining Challenges

Land Destruction Sinkholes damage to

household, loss of life & Infrastructure.

Costly: Estimated in excess of R1 billion in South Africa.

6,000 abandoned and

ownerless mines and

their associated dumps

across.

Platinum Group Metals

(PGM) & Dumps.

Post mining challenges

Acid Mine Drainage Water Quality

About 62 mega litres per

day post-closure decant

coal mines Highveld

Mpumalanga.

Approximately 27 Ml/d of

AMD need to be treated

to attain, Environmental

critical level (ECL)

South Africa Hotspots

The Challenge on Water Resources

Mining related legislation in South Africa 1903-2004

Mines, works and

machinery

regulations

Minimum distances

to structures

Mines & Works Act

Rehabilitation plan

Topsoil treatment &

vegetation recovery

Minerals Act

EMP

Financial provision

Consultation on

closure

Monitoring

Closure plan

Life cycle planning

Guidelines

MPRDA

Social and Labour plan

Integration with NEMA

and NWA

Sustainable development

principles

1931- 1951 1956 1991 2004

Transvaal Mining

laws

Fence and backfill

1903

Only the “safemaking” of

operations considered

Basic planning for

environmental

recovery

Rising awareness

of the environment

Society is an integral

part of ‘the

environment’

Complexity Science

Socio-technical System: A relatively stable configuration ofinstitutions, technologies, policies, practices and networks ofcooperation that determine the evolution and use of technology (RipKemp 1998• Interdependencies amongst sectors and actors in the production,

distribution and consumption systems render a coordinated action of the system sectors necessary.

Systems Thinking: Systems thinking is a structured way of analysingcomplex interrelationships that are problematic or simply of interest to mankind.

o Factors behind the problematic situations are interdependent, that causal effect between these factors is often two-way, and that the impact of action is neither instantaneous nor linear.

o The methodology is strong in increasing understanding of the observed phenomenon, and in establishing consequences of different options available.

o It has both techno-economic and techno-social implications.

Complex Dimensions

Complexity: Systems Thinking Approach

?? Systems

Thinking

Causal Loop Diagrams

Vensim Software

Legal Instruments

Mineral

ResourcesMining

Exploration

Production

Environment

Alternative

Strategies for Post Mining Reclamation

“The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes a

little longer.”

Motto of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World

War II.

Strategies for Post Mining Reclamation

Land Reclamation

Sustainable ecological systems theory

Afforestation

Focus on 2nd Generation opportunities

economic evaluation,

environmental authorisation

and engineering.

NB: Inter-disciplinarity.

Strategies for Water Resources Management

Water Resources Management

Passive treatment systems

Wetlands. (Constructed or natural)

Challenges: Policy, finance, Geo-technical, climate

variability.

Active treatment systems

Chemical amendment approach to the treatment of

AMD.

Chemical precipitation, ion exchange, solvent extraction,

electrolytic techniques, membrane technologies and

adsorption processes.

Strategies – Finance

Financing Abandoned Mines

Challenge

Who takes the responsibility?

Uncertainty of rehabilitation strategies.

Need for long term sustainable mining.

Mine Closure model- Project management

Rule based model- Costing-Quantum of financial

provision.

Private and public- funding models.

Deriving Opportunities-Post Mine areas

Deriving Benefits from Mine Clean Up

Opportunities

Upscale the 2nd generation of products.

treated water and by-products exceeds the treatment cost, it

is feasible to create enterprises that could provide economic

benefits while solving environmental problems

Examples .

Recovery of drinking water from gold mine effluent -CSIR

Utilising lime-treated AMD for agricultural crops.

Recovery of metals i.e. Calcium or Barium Carbonate and

Sulphur

CONCLUSION

Ecological and socio-economic systems are complex, adaptive systems,

integrating phenomena across multiple scales of space, time and

organizational complexity.

Enormity of the Challenge, Complex Dimensions,

Liabilities apportionment-. Posits need to advance collective or shared

responsibility-to attain restorative environmental justice

Integrated holistic approaches are required to face the multiple

challenges .

Way forward- Way forward- Reimagining the business model

THANK YOU!!!