Anglo American's eMalahleni Water Reclamation Plant 'eMalahleni' was the only mining initiative to be endorsed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Momentum for Change Initiative at this week’s COP 17.

The UNFCCC's Momentum for Change initiative aims to promote a workable framework to combat climate change by raising the profile of successful adaptation and mitigation projects and effective private-public partnerships in developing countries. South African President Jacob Zuma, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and Lord Nicholas Stern were among the attendees at the event.

Peter Gunther, Anglo American Head of Sustainable Development for the Other Mining and Industrial Business Unit, commented: "UNFCCC recognition is testament to the plant's considerable success. Since the eMalahleni water reclamation plant was commissioned in 2007 it has created far-reaching benefits for the environment, the local community and its feeder collieries and has received widespread endorsement as a beat practice model."

"The eMalahleni Water Reclamation plant was designed to take into account the remaining 20 to 25 year life of contributing mines, and to cater for post closure liabilities. Ultimately it will help address long-term climate adaptation risks and promote a sustainable future for the region, providing better flexibility and self-sufficiency in terms of water usage," Peter Gunther said.

eMalahleni is a public-private partnership undertaken by Anglo American's Thermal Coal business, BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (BECSA) and the eMalahleni Local Municipality. Situated in the Witbank coalfields of the Mpumalanga province, eMalahleni uses the latest water purification technology to desalinate 30 mega litres of water to potable quality per day, with plans to expand capacity to 50 mega litre litres per day by the end of 2013. This rising underground water is sourced from Thermal Coal's Landau, Greenside and Kleinkopje collieries, as well as from BECSA disused South Witbank mine.

The majority of this water is then pumped directly into the eMalahleni local municipality's reservoirs, meeting 20% of the daily water requirements of the water stressed region, which consists of 510,000 people; the region is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the country.

To date, eMalahleni has treated 30 billion litres of water, and supplied 22 billion litres of water to the eMalahleni local municipality. The plant also supplies eight mega litre litres of potable water per day to Zibulo mine, Anglo American's Inyosi Coal Project, BECSA's Klipspruit mine and the Phola coal washing plant, a joint venture between the two mining houses.

The plant operates at a 99% water recovery rate, and the ultimate goal is for it to be a zero waste facility through the 100% utilisation of its by-products. It also prevents polluted mine water from decanting into the environment and the local river system, while alleviating serious operational and safety challenges.

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Editor's Notes:

Anglo American plc is one of the world's largest mining companies, is headquartered in the UK and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. It's portfolio of mining businesses spans precious metals and minerals – in which it is a global leader in both platinum and diamonds; base metals – copper and nickel; and bulk commodities – iron ore, metallurgical coal and thermal coal. Anglo American is committed to the highest standards of safety and responsibility across all its businesses and geographies and to making a sustainable difference in the development of the communities around its operations. The company's mining operations and extensive pipeline of growth projects are located in southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America and Asia.
www.angloamerican.com

About the Emalahleni water reclamation plant

The eMalahleni water reclamation plant was created owing to R300 million joint initiative with BECSA (15% water input) and a bulk supply agreement with the water-stressed eMalahleni Local Municipality, following a decade of research and development.

Further to its environmental achievements, it has also created between 650 and 700 temporary jobs during the construction phase, and 40 permanent positions for the running of the plant. Further, 86% of the workforce comprises Historically Disadvantaged South Africans, while 91% have been sourced from surrounding communities in an area of high unemployment.

Anglo American's enterprise development arm, Zimele, utilises some of the plant's water for the retail bottling industry, selling it under the banner 4Life.

The company's thermal coal business is about to embark on phase two of the plant, which will see the facility desalinate 50 mega litres of water per day, with a maximum capacity of 60 mega litres.

The plant has previously been recognized for its achievements, having won two categories of the Mail & Guardian's Greening the Future Awards (innovative environmental strategies that improve business performance and water care) and the sustainability category of Nedbank Capital's Green Mining Awards, during 2007.  These awards seek to recognise mining and beneficiation companies for their contribution to sustainability and the environment.