Graph showing water used for primary activities between 2007 and 2011Water consumption
During 2011, our operations consumed a total of 131.6 million m3 of water. This comprised 115.3 million m3 for primary process and production activities (2010:114.5 million m3), as well as a further 16.3 million m3 for non-primary activities such as employee villages, sportsgrounds and office facilities (2010: 10.6 million m3).
The 0.7% year-onyear increase in consumption for primary activities resulted predominantly from the Barro Alto nickel plant in Brazil commencing production, increased water requirements related to construction of the Minas-Rio iron ore project in Brazil, and dust suppression activities arising from operational changes at the El Soldado copper mine in Chile.
Despite acquisitions and expansions, and taking into account disposals, a relatively stable level of demand has been maintained since 2007.
In addition to targeting overall water reductions, Group operations aim to re-use and recycle as much water as possible. With this focus, nearly 70% of our operational water requirements were met by recycling/re-using water during 2011.
Reducing consumption
Our operations employ a combination of technology, behaviour and process-change initiatives in order to save water. Aside from using less, many operations are trying to use different types of water to reduce demand for potable water.
For example, Platinum’s mines in the Rustenburg complex of South Africa’s North West province have signed an offtake agreement with the local municipality for 15 Ml per day of treated effluent from its sewage treatment plant. The mines commissioned a water treatment plant in November 2011 to improve the quality of this treated water even further to meet their needs – thereby replacing potable water use in their industrial activities.
Our copper business, with operations located in one of the driest regions in the world, has approved the development of desalination plant at its Mantoverde mine to replace abstraction from the strained Copiapó river aquifer with sea water.
The Emalahleni water reclamation plant at our thermal coal business in South Africa currently treats around 25 Ml per day of acid mine water from four mines. Plans have been approved to double the facility’s capacity.