Mine excursion
The Circular Shaft will be refurbished when West Wits moves their operations underground in five to six years.
C
M
Y
year once the underground operations are in full swing. The mine has an estimated life of 30 years.
“ We will mine to depths of only about 400m because of the water table. There are certain areas where there is a lot of unmined reef at about 1 500 – 2 000m, but the water might be a problem. The flooded water table is a result of the historical mines. However, by creating a water pillar, it is possible to mine these areas. Harmony Gold is doing exactly that at its Doornkop mine, where they are mining as deep as 2 000m despite the water. But they are doing this behind a‘ water barrier’ or‘ water pillar’. Our plan, though, is to stay shallow— it is easier and less costly. We’ ll keep it basic,” says Quinert.
West Wits is still waiting for a mining right application to be approved for the entire area, and there are two mining permit applications for two discrete projects that are still outstanding. The mining currently taking place at Sol Plaatjies follows official instructions from the Department of Mineral Resources to undertake remediation. This is separate from other mining rights that West Wits is pursuing. The plan, according to Quinert, is to start mining in quarter two of 2019.
West Wits is soldiering on despite the fierce opposition, and bad press, that the project has evoked.“ We believe West Wits can improve the living conditions for all people in the area, through mining and rehabilitating these extremely degraded areas. All we ask is that we be given a fair go,” says Quinert. Maybe the early and gusty August winds do indeed bring change. And maybe it opens up a new chapter in the often-troubled book about the mining history of the Witwatersrand. b
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
OCTOBER 2018 MINING MIRROR [ 19 ]