The wastewater treatment plant of the Matjhabeng Local Municipality is one of three that will benefit from Harmony Gold’s water conservation projects to provide secure, potable water supply to its communities, operations, and employees.
Harmony has refurbished the municipal wastewater treatment plants on behalf of the Matjhabeng, Matlosana, and Merafong municipalities and has also implemented its own water treatment plants at various sites.
The total cost of refurbishing the municipal plants identified by Harmony amounts to R35,5 million. These projects will collectively increase the sewage treatment capacity of the refurbished plants by around 30 million litres per day, improving the lives of around one million people.
Harmony Group chief executive officer (CEO), Peter Steenkamp, says access to secure water supply is critical to mining and the development of the people, communities, and economy.
“Potable or drinkable water is a very important resource for our employees, our operations and the communities in which we operate, especially in water-scarce jurisdictions.
“It is estimated that 2,6 billion people will not have access to safely managed sanitation by 2030.”
In South Africa, sewage plants have not been effectively managed and maintained, which has led to a gradual deterioration of water quality in rivers, while municipalities are under severe pressure from affected communities.
Apart from supplying potable water, this project will also result in improved water quality in rivers and streams in these areas, resulting in downstream improvements to end-users, both for direct use and food production, and will lead to better ecosystems and the preservation of local water resources for future generations.
“Achieving real, tangible, sustainable results requires collaboration. We have worked closely with our local municipalities and other stakeholders to refurbish and operate these treatment facilities, and to rebuild skills and capacity within local municipalities to ensure the sustainability of the facilities once the responsibility is eventually handed back to municipalities,” concludes Steenkamp.
