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MINING FOR CLOSURE
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Box 8
Drainage tunnel mushroom farms
Case example
Market opportunity
Capital expenditure
Longevity
Infrastructure
Employment
Market
Additional benefit
Fate
Tunnel Closure – Diamond Mushroom Farms
Tunnels stable environment and climate provides competitive advantage for mushroom grower
ZAR 600 000
Ongoing
Underground drainage tunnels in historical mining area around the “Big Hole” of Kimberley
12 persons
Leading supplier of specialty mushrooms with southern African distribution network. Turnover
ZAR 800 000/p.a.
Underground drainage tunnels an ongoing maintenance liability for De Beers. This was turned
into rental income.
Project acquired by De Beers for use as an empowerment vehicle.
Box 9
Metallurgical plant fish farm
Case example
Market opportunity
Capital expenditure
Longevity
Infrastructure
Employment
Market
Additional benefit
Fate
Metallurgical Plant Closure – AngloGoldFish (West Rand)
Ponds ideal for managing water conditions for fish farming – such operations carried out by
existing business actors
ZAR 2.5 million
Ongoing.
Metallurgical Plants designed for the circulation of liquids
18
Outgrower to existing exporter. Turnover ZAR 3.6 million/p.a.
If replicated at 4 earmarked sites closure savings could have exceeded ZAR 45 million and result
in a world class player in the ornamental fish business.
Avoidance of closure cost in excess of ZAR 7 million