World’s largest double lined tailings facility under construction near Fochville raises environmental concerns
The project is expected to be completed in April 2027 with a lifespan of 30 years.
Once completed, the new mega tailings facility being built outside Fochville will be the biggest of its kind in the world.
This was some of the information that came to light during an annual feedback session about the facility, held at the Crocodilian last month.
According to representatives of DRDGOLD, who is building the facility, it will be double-lined with plastic and clay layers underneath to prevent the reworked mine waste from contaminating underground water. It will be the biggest facility in the world that has these precautions in place.
If all goes according to plan, the facility will be completed in April 2027. It has an expected lifetime of 30 years. Some of the farmers attending the event, however, still expressed concerns about the possible environmental impact that the massive slimes dam may have.
One of them, Anthony Kriener, said that they are very concerned about the possible impact of dust from the new slimes dam. He noted that farmers staying in the area of the Crocodilian are already badly affected by a much smaller slimes dam owned by Sibanye-Stillwater. Although they are busy engaging with this mining house, they are frustrated by the many loopholes they encountered in legislation that make it impossible for them to force Sibanye-Stillwater to stop huge amounts of dust being blown to their farms when the wind blows.
Another farmer, Jaco Taute, raised concerns about the fact that there is currently no plan in place to stop vehicles monitoring the pipelines for the project from spreading Foot and Mouth Disease, which has become a problem in the area. Taute is also the chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation.
Some members of informal communities in the area of the new project, such as Nkosi Hlabeni, also said they were worried about the possible pollution, as well as the fact that some residents were left out when it came to the possibility of temporary employment.
The DRDGold representatives acknowledged the concerns, but noted that they have other formal structures in place where the community is already being engaged with, through their councillors, with regard to possible opportunities.
