Recent investigations reveal that more water is stored in the underground workings of Mpumalanga’s mines than the three dams that feed the Mpumalanga highveld. This poses serious safety, productivity and environmental problems for operating collieries, and could create significant impacts beyond mine closure.

As a result of a recent agreement, major coal mining houses and Eskom will jointly undertake water-related investigations and projects, pooling their resources of capital and expertise, and benefiting from the accompanying economies of scale.

This initiative is in line with the departments of water affairs and forestry and minerals and energy’s regional mine closure and rehabilitation strategy, which views an integrated approach to closure and rehabilitation as the way forward.