Update on ZAC slurry pond spill incident
19 January 2022, Johannesburg
Press Release
Update on ZAC slurry pond spill incident
ZAC provides additional details on incident
Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) met with the joint operations committee (JOC) on 18 January 2022. The JOC is made up of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the Department of Water and Sanitation, the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. ZAC provided the members of JOC with relevant updates on clean up efforts and investigations into the incident.
ZAC is complying with directives from relevant regulatory authorities setting out monitoring of the potential negative impacts of the incident, says ZAC Environmental Superintendent Msawenkosi Buthelezi.
This directive gives specific actions to be performed. This includes: several bio-monitoring actions which will give a factual base as to the spill impact on the environment namely SASS, FRAI, IHAS, VEGRAI, and DEEEP toxicity.
ZAC has been operating on the same site for the last 38 years and developed communication structures through the traditional authorities which communicate issues directly affecting surrounding communities.
In the case of this incident, which took place on 24 December 2021, at approximately 14:00, the traditional authorities were immediately notified of the incident (within 2 hours of the occurrence).
Community leaders were briefed on the 24th, 25th,26th, and 28th December 2021, and 3rd and 6th January 2022. The community leaders provided regular feedback to their communities. The meetings received a detailed briefing. Community leaders were generally satisfied with how ZAC has handled the incident, working together with the host communities themselves as well as relevant authorities to ensure continued support for livelihoods and economic activities.
Labour for the clean-up is also sourced from the host communities. Moreover, the majority of ZAC’s 1000 employees are also from the host communities. “There is awareness and the engagements with our host communities as well as regulatory authorities are ongoing,” Buthelezi states.
To recap the incident in brief: an end wall of slurry pond 3 failed, resulting in a pollution spill of 1 500 m3 of coal slurry. The spill was caused by the failure of the slurry pond end wall. This slurry pond end wall was newly installed, following the loading out of the dry slurry during November 2021. A further aggravating factor in the end wall failure was the heavy rainfall four days prior to the failure – 66mm. An engineering firm has been appointed to confirm the exact root cause of the failure of the dam wall. This investigation is currently in process.
MITIGATORY MEASURES – CLEAN UP AND COMPENSATION
Upon receiving a report on the failure, mine management immediately began with plugging the pond and initiating a clean-up operation, both manually and mechanically. These clean-up operations will continue as guided by the relevant legislation.
To assess possible damage caused to surrounding host communities, ZAC is engaging the relevant local community forums and structures to identify any such damage and discuss resolutions thereof. ZAC has a long-standing history of working closely with host communities – a policy we are proud of implementing. Over the last five years, ZAC has supplied treated, potable, piped water to both livestock and human consumption in the area. ZAC continues to do this, at 23 communal taps, at a rate of 2 511 000 litres per month.
MITIGATORY MEASURES – PREVENTION OF RECURRENCE
Immediately after the spill, all pumping to the slurry ponds was stopped. The end wall of the slurry pond was rebuilt and is awaiting a professional engineer certification before the pond is brought back into service. The integrity of the other slurry ponds containment walls will also be checked by a professional engineer and, where necessary, improvements will be made.
In the medium term, a filter press will be installed in the coal washing plant, to remove the slurry from the water, and therefore minimise the likelihood of slurry spilling in future. This action is planned for completion by the end of March 2022. One such plant was installed in 2020, and as a result of the successful operation thereof, another will be put into place.
Over the last 38 years, numerous surface and groundwater monitoring points have been utilised to monitor groundwater and surface water quality. An additional 8 monitoring points have been established. These additional points were sampled when the incident took place and monitoring will continue for the next 12 months. The points are indicated on the attached map. Further monitoring downstream towards the estuary is being conducted in accordance with directives from the relevant authorities.
Additionally, M2 Environmental Connections Pty Ltd (MENCO) has been appointed to monitor the surface and groundwater.
NOTIFICATION AND INVOLVEMENT OF AUTHORITIES
The relevant government authorities were notified of the spill event, immediately following the spill.
“An inspection by an official from the Department of Water and Sanitation was made on 26 December 2021. ZAC is working with the relevant government departments to ensure that all legal requirements are met,” states. Buthelezi
SLURRY DAMS
Regarding the mineral and chemical composition of the slurry dams: The specific mineral and chemical composition of the slurry dams is anthracite slurry. Based on a recent waste characterisation study it is evident that the following elements form part of the composition of the slurry: Carbon, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chrome, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, vanadium and zinc. The dams contained coal slurry and because manganese is inherent in coal, manganese was previously identified during waste characteristics studies. ZAC however does not use any additional manganese in its washing, separation or other operational processes.
ZAC BACKGROUND
Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) is located 25km from Nongoma, and 40km from Ulundi, in the heart of rural Zululand. Areas of interest bordering the mining right area are the Umfolozi River and the Umfolozi section of the Hluhluwe Umfolozi game park. ZAC employs 1100 people in the area, either directly or as contractors servicing the operation. As a vital cog in the local community, ZAC appreciates the importance of managing the varied demands placed upon it, while operating sustainably and for the benefit of the local community. The history and ongoing durability of the mine attest to an operation generally operating in sync with these demands.
To view a timeline of actions taken by ZAC following the slurry spill incident, click on the below:
For more information, contact:
Menar Corporate Communication Department
Siphiwe Tame
Tel: +27 11 783 7996
Email: pr@menar.com