Exxaro begins operations on water treatment facility at Matla coal mine, South Africa

South Africa-based mining company Exxaro Resources has started operations on a new water treatment plant at the Matla coal mine in Mpumalanga province.

Built with an investment of approximately R250m ($21.07m), the new facility will treat 10Ml (mega litres) of water a day.

The new facility will reduce the safety risk created by large quantities of water that have filled mined-out underground cavities, in addition to benefiting the environment and local water users.

Exxaro Resources CEO Sipho Nkosi said: "Water is a strategic natural resource in South Africa and it is our duty to ensure that we reduce the impact of our mining activities on this precious resource."

"The Matla water treatment plant is a prime example of this approach and is one of three water treatment plants in our Mpumalanga region, which are part of our long-term water management strategy."

The Matla underground mining operations experience severe water ingress into the workings from surface, creating flooding risks for the workers and surrounding environment.

Exxaro planned a solution to the underground water that is centered on modern water treatment plant, after negotiations with departments of water and sanitation, environmental affairs and mineral resources.

A total of 6.5Ml of water will be discharged to the Olifants River from the 10Ml of water being treated by the facility. The remaining water will be used in the Matla operations or for potable water needs at the mine.

The firm is also developing a water treatment facility at the North Block Complex operation near Belfast, Ireland, which is expected to be operational by the end of this year, and other facility at the Arnot mine near Middelburg, Netherlands, that is expected to be operational by 2017.