Mogalakwena Municipality which falls under the Bushveld Mineral Complex which contain
one the richest ore deposits on Earth. The reserve of chromium, platinum,
palladium,osmiunm,iridium,rhodium,and ruthenium are the world’s lagest along with
vast quantities of iron, tin, titanium and vanadium.
It is over 67000km2in
exetent, an area the size of Ireleand. It extents from Rustenburg in the west through
Mokopane, in the North Lydennburg in the East. A number of mines in the
mogalakwena area of which include:
- Clay
Clay is mined on the farm Weenen (between the N1 and R101 on the way to Polokwane) and
is used by Weene Bricks in manufacturing of bricks and other pottery artickes
- Dimension Stone
Granite mine on the farms Klipplaatdrift, Leyden and Bellevue.
- Limestone
The main deposit is on the farm Uitloop. This reserve was exploited in the past to such
an extent that it represented the main source of limestone in then Transvaal province.
The Duitsland Formation, located to the south-east of Potgietersrus, contains several
layers of limestone.
- Fluorspar
A number of fluorspar deposits are located within the region, including those on the
farms Buffelfontein, Vischaat and Eerste Geluk. The Buffalo Fluorspar mine was
terminated.
- Tin
The deposits of tin are mined on the farm Roodepoort, Zaaiplaats, Salomons’tempel
and Groenfontein.
- Coal
Waterberg District coal field has about 45% of the total coal reserve of South Africa,
However, it should be noted that only a fraction of this coal could considered
recoverable because the bulk is too deep to mine.
The Grootegekuk mine owned by ISCOR was commissioned in April 1981,also there are three
mining done farm Enkelbult, Daarby, Leewdrift,Turfbult and Hieromtrent.
- Granite
Granite mining around Bakenberg
- Platinum
A PPL Mine around Mapela Villages owed by Anglo Platinum. Which since its arrival have
help the municipality to source water from Doorndraai Dam.
Mogalakwena: A Unique Water Partnership
In early 2003, the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Unit (MIIU) completed one of its
more complex partnerships. As with many municipalities in the Limpopo Province, water
supply is an ongoing challenge for Mogalakwena, formerly Potgietersrust. With the many
recent changes in local government, limited resources, and a semi-arid climate,
Mogalakwena has struggled with bulk water supply for the past 10 years. Several planned
projects, including a new pipeline from the Doorndraai dam, failed to materialize in 1999
due to limited finances and institutional problems.
The area’s largest industry, Anglo American Platinum Limited (PPL), uses the sewage
effluent from the town’s wastewater treatment plant to process water in its mining
operations. The lack of an adequate bulk water supply was also limiting PPL’s
future expansion potential. In mid-2002, PPL approached the Municipality with an offer
to finance the construction of the new Doorndraai pipeline. Because the pipeline
would also lead to increased sewage flows, the company offered to make improvements in
the wastewater treatment facilities.
The Municipality approached the MIIU in November last year to assist in putting this
unique partnership together. An MIIU grant agreement was quickly negotiated and
consultants selected, with MIIU staff playing an advisory and quality control role.
Most of the work was completed by mid-2003, but much of the effort over that period
involved consultation with the many stakeholders involved, including the local
community, the Lepelle Northern Water Board (the operator of the existing dam and
pipeline), Waterberg District Municipality (the statutory water service authority), the
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, and the Department of Environmental Affairs.
The Partnership consists of eight different contracts, a main general agreement, with
additional specific agreements dealing with individual project activities. In
general the partnership includes a series of Buy Operate and Transfer (BOT) concession
contracts between PPL, the Water Board and the Municipality. PPL will retain
ownership of the assets during the concession term but will transfer those assets to the
public entities once the capital investment is recouped. The Water Board and the
Municipality will continue to operate the facilities during the concession period. Also
included in the partnership is an exchange of property between PPL and the Municipality
for future mine housing to accommodate the 2,000 new employees to be added as the mine
expands.
Along with the 16 megalitre pipeline, there will be a six megalitre addition to water
treatment works and a nine megaliter upgrade of the wastewater treatment facilities.
The total project value is approximately $27 million.
The partnership represents a unique win-win situation for all stakeholders. The
Municipality will get a new, badly needed 16 megaliter per day pipeline. The PPL
mine will get a guaranteed supply of process water for its expansion plans. PPL
expansion will mean a considerable boost for the local economy. |