Industrial water security specialist Talbot has successfully designed, built, and commissioned an expansion to the existing water treatment plant at Pan African Resources’ Evander Gold Mine, effectively doubling treatment capacity.

Following the completion of phase 1 of the water treatment facility in 2023, phase 2 was initiated to address the mine’s rising water demand and increasing operational risk resulting from municipal water supply disruptions.  Treatment capacity has been expanded from 3 ML/d to 6 ML/d. The Talbot operated plant represents an advancement in sustainable mining water management, demonstrating how focused engineering, value optimisation and disciplined execution can enhance water security at deep-level gold operations.

Scaling Capacity for Operational Resilience

Water is a production‑critical resource in gold mining operations. At Evander Gold, ongoing and unplanned interruptions to municipal supply had created a vulnerability that threatened production continuity, accelerating the need for infrastructure capable of recovering and treating underground mine water to potable standards.

“The objective of phase 2 was not only to scale capacity, but to do so without disrupting an already critical operational asset,” explains Talbot project manager Kieran Govender. “From the outset, our focus was on ensuring that every engineering and execution decision supported long-term operability, reliability and ease of use for the teams who would ultimately run the plant.”

The upgrade was delivered under a full Engineering, Procurement and Construction model, encompassing detailed design, fabrication, installation, integration and commissioning. A fundamental requirement was seamless tie‑in with the existing phase 1 facility while keeping the plant fully operational throughout construction and commissioning.

SANS 241 Water Quality

A compact, bespoke design with an optimised layout was achieved, saving an estimated 65% to 70% of space compared with traditional expansion approaches. The upgraded facility incorporates a multi-stage treatment process designed to recover and treat underground mine water to SANS 241 drinking water quality standards. The system integrates ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and chemical dosing to ensure consistent water quality and process stability.

Zero‑disruption

A critical aspect of the project was executing the upgrade in a live operating environment, where continuous water availability is essential. Talbot adopted a phased implementation strategy, carefully sequencing mechanical completion, wet commissioning and performance ramp‑up activities. The project achieved first water on schedule, validating both the installation quality and the integration methodology. “I’m incredibly proud of the way our team executed the design, installation, commissioning and handover process on this plant,” says Talbot implementation manager Jutta Dedekind. The upgrade also integrated a centralised automation and control system, enabling real‑time monitoring, process optimisation and reduced operator dependency.

“The Phase 2 upgrade has significantly strengthened our operational resilience and water security,” says Pan African Resources Group consulting engineer surface operations Wayne Allen. The completed plant has delivered tangible results, including improved water security, enhanced production reliability, and doubled treatment capacity to meet increasing demand. Construction and commissioning were completed without any unplanned downtime, while the facility now produces SANS 241-compliant potable water and supports regulatory compliance and safe reuse. Additionally, the project has lowered the mine’s environmental footprint by increasing the recovery and reuse of underground water.

Beyond site‑specific outcomes, the project highlights how established mining operations can transform water management challenges and improve resilience in an environment increasingly impacted by water scarcity. The successful delivery of the water treatment plant reinforces Talbot’s ability to deliver high‑impact water infrastructure under complex operational constraints, positioning the company as a trusted partner in mining water independence.