From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. Diversified miner Exxaro has unveiled the first of three water treatment plants designed to mitigate underground water storage constraints, protect scarce natural water resources and ensure the safety of mineworkers.
Natasha Odendaal tells us more.
Natasha Odendaal:
Exxaro’s new R250-million Robert Clarke Water Treatment Plant at the underground Matla coal mine, in Mpumalanga, is the start of Exxaro’s holistic groupwide water management strategy.
The modular plant will be fully operational by the end of May, with the water pumping prioritised in the regions earmarked for mining in the next five years.
This would help Exxaro mitigate the significant water ingress experienced at the mine that heightens flooding risks, which threatens the safety of mineworkers and increases the potential risk of environmental contamination.
Exxaro coal financial performance group manager Mellis Walker tells us more.
Exxaro coal financial performance group manager Mellis Walker
Shannon de Ryhove:
Other news making headlines this week: The Coca-Cola bottling company reduces its water use by 70% over five years.
Beverage bottling company Amalgamated Beverage Industries– the largest manufacturer and bottler of Coca-Cola products in the southern hemisphere – has succeeded in reducing the water required to produce beverages across its five plants by some 70% over the last five years.
ABI technical and planning manager JP Blumenthal
That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.