The uses of water in mining operations are substantial. Philip Wood looks at the facts behind the figures.
Der Einsatz von Wasser im Bergbau kann erheblich sein. Philip Wood untersucht die Fakten hinter den Zahlen.
La utilización del agua en las operaciones de minería es crucial. Philip Wood observa los hechos detrás de las cifras.
Managing mine water M
Polypipe’s systems are modern and lightweight and easier to install than traditional pipe systems.
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ining is the second largest industrial user of water in the world, with only power generation
being responsible for higher water consumption. Globally, around 7-9 billion cubic metres of water are used for mining purposes each year, which is as much as a country such as Nigeria uses in total in a year1 In Africa in particular, the
.
responsible use and conservation of water used in mining operations is therefore vital to sustainability. According to a 2011 De Beers report2
arid lands cover around 60% of African land which, although it is home to around 15% of the world’s population, has only 9% of global renewable water resources. Putting the spotlight on South Africa in particular, 2.5% of national water supplies are used to sustain mining activities in the country3
,
which may not seem a lot, but the 2004 National Water Resource Strategy4
puts this in perspective by
contrasting South Africa’s annual average rainfall of 450mm with the world average of 860mm. Recent evidence points to a 61% increase in mining projects in South Africa from 2005-13, placing additional pressure on a stretched resource5
. ,
Te uses of water in mining operations are varied and substantial. It is employed to recover mineral ores from chemical solutions, to cool equipment such as rock cutters, and to wash minerals once extracted. Ores can also be transported away from the site through pipelines in slurry, which can cut the costs associated with road or rail transport but increase the amount of water used by a mine. Arid climates often lead to dusty conditions, particularly on service roads, and here water is used to damp
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