Environmental performance

Environmental performance
 

Management approach

Responsibility for environmental management lies with the general managers of the respective operations, although they are supported by an environmental management team and appointed consultants. The latter undertake dust and water monitoring for example, as well as assessments of compliance with Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and other specialist functions. DRDGOLD’s environmental policy commits the company to the responsible management of the environment in which it operates, adopting and implementing environmental practices as outlined in the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), 1998.

DRDGOLD’s policy is to:

  • integrate environmental management into the company’s business and planning so as to minimise the influence of its activities on the environment through internal risk assessments and environmental impact assessments;
  • comply with relevant environmental legislation and adopt and apply the best practicable environmental option to address any issues; and
  • monitor, evaluate and report the success of the mitigation measures applied.

The diversity of DRDGOLD’s operations is particularly evident when looking at the risks and challenges, and indeed the opportunities, facing the company from an environmental perspective.

The deep-level underground Blyvoor mine has a relatively limited footprint area under management, but a considerable legacy in respect of the accumulation of environmental challenges over decades of operation. Blyvoor’s infrastructure is ageing, which has an impact on environmental control and the company’s recent operating and financial challenges have added further constraints. It is also located in a region that has been mined intensively for many decades by many different companies, most of which are no longer operational. It is therefore very difficult to always isolate a particular source of impact to a particular mine. Key amongst the environmental issues faced by Blyvoor are:

  • dust management from the tailings storage facilities (TSFs);
  • prevention and management of discharges; and
  • planning for the rehabilitation and eventual closure of operations.

Additionally, Blyvoor and ERPM are key role-players in the potential water decant problem, and the associated acid mine drainage (AMD) within the Central and Far Western Witwatersrand Basins, a legacy of mining in this region for over a 100 years. Associated with this, and with the location of its operation in a dolomite-rich region, Blyvoor closely monitors the formation of sinkholes on and around its property, and fills and rehabilitates these when and where they occur.

The surface retreatment operations experience their own environmental challenges, which are more often short-term in nature, occurring primarily during the process of mining operations. These include:

  • air pollution from surface deposits that are being mined or active deposition sites;
  • discharges (particularly when pipelines burst or are damaged); and
  • aesthetic disturbance caused by the physical alteration of the landscape (despite the dumps are forming an artificial landscape in the first instance).

Common across all operations is the need to conserve and optimise the use of resources such as water, energy, chemicals such as cyanide, hydrochloric acid and lime, and fuels. DRDGOLD’s operations are typically located in close proximity to local communities, and the impact of these operations (as well as neighbouring mining operations) can have a real and negative impact on the communities concerned. Ongoing community engagement is therefore a very important feature of DRDGOLD’s environmental management programme (EMP).

Performance in FY2011

Compliance

Compliance with environmental legislation and regulations set by the DMR, the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs (DWEA) and the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) forms the basis of DRDGOLD’s environmental management systems.

Approved EMPs are in place at all of the company’s active operations. Developed by the company, these plans address the impacts and potential impacts on the environment by DRDGOLD, as well as the measures to manage, monitor and mitigate these impacts. A biennial audit is undertaken to assess compliance with the EMP and submitted to the DMR. The most recent audits were undertaken at Crown, ERPM and Blyvoor in May/June 2011. No significant areas of non-compliance were noted.

An external consultant undertakes an annual assessment of closure liabilities. NNR audits are also conducted once a year as part of the NNR compliance monitoring procedure.

Revised EMPs, compliant with the MPRDA requirements, were submitted to the DMR – for Blyvoor and ERPM in 2007, and for Crown in 2009.

All operations applied for their integrated water use licences in 2006 and 2007. Ergo’s application was approved in 2010 and Blyvoor’s in 2011. The other operations – Crown and ERPM – are still awaiting approval by DWA of their applications, and are operating in line with previously granted permits in the interim.

Environmental incidents are monitored and reported to the relevant authorities as required. There were a total of 16 environmental incidents during the year:

  • three relating to water pollution at Crown and three at Blyvoor, involving burst residue pipes and storm water run-off;
  • seven dust-related incidents at Crown, involving windblown dust from reclamation sites and TSFs; and
  • three radiation incidents at Crown and ERPM, involving burst residue pipes, AMD from a reclamation site and the removal of scrap from the ERPM plant.

Steps were taken to remedy each of these incidents including:

  • increased pipeline controls, including tests on pipeline integrity; increased control of TSF paddocks at Blyvoor;
  • installation of telemetric warning systems;
  • various rehabilitation measures, including vegetation, cladding, dust suppression, share netting and ridge ploughing; and
  • demolition of the ERPM plant.

No fines were imposed on any of the company’s operations during FY2011 for environmental non-compliance.

Stakeholder engagement on environmental issues

Together with other mines in the area, Blyvoor is a member of the Mining Interest Group (MIG) which regularly engages with the DMR, DWA, the NNR, and representatives of local authorities and municipalities. The MIG is represented on the implementation task team set up by government to look at viable, practical solutions to address pollution issues regarding the Wonderfontein Spruit.

DRDGOLD participates in a number of public groups, including the:

  • Ekurhuleni Business Forum;
  • Blesbok Spruit Forum;
  • Klip River Forum;
  • Rand Water Catchment Quality Forum,;
  • Heriotdale Business Forum;
  • Mooi River Forum;
  • Far West Rand Technical Working Group;
  • Far West Rand Dolomitic Water Association;
  • Wonderfonteinspruit Forum;
  • Potchefstroom City Council; and the
  • Merafong Clean Air Forum.

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