Modern Mining January 2017

ZINC

dumps and other facilities to prevent run-off or atmospheric pollution. We are, for example, going to separate different types of waste rock based on leachability characteristics. Moving to the third principle, Remedy, this involves the translocation of sensitive species for use in concurrent rehabilitation and already we have moved around 80 000 plants. “Finally, we have our ‘Offset’ principle. This has seen us entering into a biodiversity offset agreement with the Department of Environment and Nature Conservation in terms of which we are identifying and securing properties near to the project site which have similar biodiversity features. At this stage, we’ve identified approxi- mately 40 000 ha and these will ultimately be managed in conjunction with our partners to ensure that there will be no biodiversity loss as a result of our mining activities.” Summing up, Naidoo says she believes that Gamsberg will become a template for how the environmental impacts of mining can be suc- cessfully managed and minimised. “Vedanta has never attempted anything on this scale before so in many respects we’re playing a pioneering role,” she observes. “We’ve made mistakes but we’re learning as we go along and we’re determined that Gamsberg will become a benchmark project in demonstrating that mines can be developed – and operated – in a manner that is wholly consistent with a high degree of care and concern for the natural environment.” Photos courtesy of Vedanta Zinc International

Centre of Endemism with its 397 succulent spe- cies, 16 of them endemic. We are well aware of our responsibility to protect this highly sensi- tive environment and we are sparing no effort to ensure that we get things right.” Naidoo says that VZI is working very closely with a range of interested parties, most nota- bly the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which she describes as one of the world’s oldest and largest global environ- mental organisations. “We have a broad ranging partnership now in place with the IUCN,” she says. “They are guiding us on how we can best proactively address the impacts of our proj- ect and are also assisting us with the capacity building and empowerment of local NGOs on biodiversity management and enhancement.” The mitigation hierarchy that VZI has adopted can be summarised as ‘Avoid, Minimise, Remedy and Offset’. Elaborating, Naidoo says the first step is to avoid as far as possible any negative impacts by locating elements of the project away from areas of environmental sensitivity. “This principle has guided the siting of the plant, the waste dumps and the tailings facility. Obviously, we are lim- ited in what we can do with respect to the open pit but even here we have deliberately sterilised some ground – 10 Mt of resource, to be specific – in the interests of preserving the environment. “The second mitigation principle, Minimise, involves fencing off areas to protect fauna and flora and planning and constructing waste

Underground mine to continue in tandemwith Gamsberg It should be emphasised that Gamsberg is in no way intended to replace Black Moun- tain Mining (BMM)’s current polymetallic underground mine at Aggeneys, which is a healthy producer of both lead and zinc with a projected production of 90 000 tonnes of metal in concentrate in 2017. The mine comprises two operating shafts – Deeps and Swartberg – and a processing plant and has been in opera- tion since 1980. Deeps produce copper, lead and zinc, with silver as a by-product and has about four years of economic life left. Swartberg

is primarily a copper and lead producer, with silver as a by-product. Plans are well advanced to deepen Swartberg, which will increase production to 1,6 Mt/a of copper and lead ore and 60 to 70 kt/a of metals in concentrate, depending on fa- vourable economic assessment. 

The Deeps Shaft at Black Mountain Mining produces copper, lead and zinc, with silver as a by-product.

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January 2017  MODERN MINING  61