Environmental stewardship is fundamental to all modern mining companies and a critical part of African Gold Group’s strategy. Even by using the best industry practices, mining does have an impact on the natural environment. However, AGG is dedicated to minimizing these impacts where possible.
Hybrid Power plant
African Gold Group's commitment to environmental stewardship begins with the hybrid power plant that will combine photovoltaic solar panels, thermal generators and a battery energy storage system (BESS). This will enable up to 40% of our power requirement to be sourced from the sun’s energy.
This will achieve the following significant annual reduction in pollutants:
- Over 5 million litres of heavy fuel oil (HFO)
- Over 14 million kg of carbon dioxide emissions
- Over 8,000 kg of carbon monoxide emissions
- Over 720 kg of unburned hydrocarbons
- Over 34,000 kg of sulfur dioxide
- Nearly 62,000 kg of nitrogen oxides
AGG is committed to monitoring pollutant emissions and begin to evaluate how best to report on emissions reduction in 2020/21.
"This will enable the Kobada Gold Project to significantly reduce its environmental impact while ensuring reliable power supply"
We take environmental, social and governance 'ESG' initiatives seriously, and by installing the hybrid plant, we move closer to operating a sustainable and responsible mining operation at our flagship Kobada Gold Project"
Danny Callow
Chief Executive Officer
Tailings Storage Facility
Tailings are a waste product and what remains after economically valuable minerals have been removed from mined ore. African Gold Group’s Kobada Project will use a specially designed and engineered repository – known as a Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) for the processing of waste. This design is an HDPE-lined, full containment valley tailings dam (TD) system, and in addition other infrastructure, which includes slurry distribution pipeline, catchment paddocks, toe drain system, underdrainage system, curtain drain system, blanket drain system, solution collection pipeline, collection sumps and manholes, seepage cut-off trench, storm water diversion trenches, emergency spillway, access roads and perimeter fence line. A floating barge system will decant supernatant tailings slurry water and storm water from the facility back to the plant.
The tailings dam is designed to the highest international standards, including;
- International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), Tailings Dams Safety (Draft)
- Canadian Dam Association (CDA), Dam Safety Guidelines (2013)
- South African National Standard (SANS) 10286:1998, Mine Residue
- South African Institution of Civil Engineering – Geotechnical Division, Site Investigation Code of Practice (2010)
The Kobada TSF will be carefully monitored and maintained to ensure the stability of the dam walls, and to prevent seepage of contaminants into the local environment.
Tailings Management
Monitoring technology
Kobada will employ monitoring systems such as vibrating wire piezometers, inclinometers, drone surveys, satellite imagery, static prisms for movement detection, drainage monitoring, and other technologies to monitor the TSF’s abutments, natural slopes and water levels.
Routine inspection
Will be conducted by suitably qualified and experienced operation site personnel. Intended to ensure that the TSF is operating within prescribed parameters. In addition, an external engineer on record will be appointed to provide assurance and alignment to International Tailings Dam standards.
Reducing Freshwater Use and Protecting Local Environment Water Quality
Reliable and secure access to water will be crucial to the effective operation of the Kobada Mine. It is also a human right. By reducing the volume of fresh water we use and by protecting water quality in our local environment, we lessen our environmental impact and support our host community.
Our aim is to deliver enough water for the effective operation of the Kobada mine, while also preserving and improving the quality and quantity of water available to the local community. We aim to minimize our use of water, control and manage our impacts on water quality, and engage with stakeholders to maintain sustainable management of water resources for the benefit of all users. The design of the tailings dam, and decant system is such that all process water can be recycled back to the process plant This positive water balance eliminates the requirement for make-up water to be drawn from the natural water courses thus limiting the impact on the environment.