Jwaneng mines launches water treatment project
Jwaneng Mine has come up with a new project of treating sewage water from the township, a development which will reduce the mine’s carbon footprints and find alternative water sources. The project, known as Jwaneng Wastewater Utilization, is aimed at reducing pressure on demand at the Northern Wellfields in the mining process. It will also provide a new supply source which will increase conservation of fresh water for future use. According to a press statement from Debswana, owners of the Jwaneng Mine, “a similar system has also been adopted at Orapa Mine”. The project has complied with the Environmental Impact Assessment Act and is aligned to the Botswana National Water Master Plan and Debswana’s own Water Management Strategy. “The project will have long term benefits for the area’s water supply and will reduce environmental issues. The project will also relieve Water Utilities Corporation’s (WUC) of environmental pollution, flooding and straying livestock which has been causing accidents on the Jwaneng to Sekoma road,” commented Project Manager, Mike Brook. Brook added that there are more benefits that will come from the project. “This is a completely new water supply for Jwaneng, relieving pressure on fresh water consumption from the Northern Wellfields and conserving drinking water for future generations,” he added. The new project will also reduce Debswana’s spending with only a quarter of the cost expected to be incurred as compared to cost implications of water pumped from the Northern Wellfields. Brook further noted that a new chlorine gas-based disinfection system will kill any harmful pathogens.