Grootegeluk back on track

Work at the Grootegeluk mine in Lephalale returned to normal this week after production was impacted by the higher than normal, heavy rains experienced earlier in March.
According to Mzila Mthenjane, Exxaro executive head for Strategy & Corporate Affairs, production fell drastically during the worst of the rains. “Since then production has steadily increased and over the past few days it has returned to normal.”
“There has been no material impact on the supply of coal to the Matimba power station or to other customers, including the export market. This is due to the availability of sufficient stockpiles which were used,” she added.
Mthenjane further explained that the water that remained in the pit is currently being used as processing water in the beneficiation plant. This has negated the need for the mine to draw raw water from its normal source, the Mokolo Dam.
The Grootegeluk mine is situated in a low rainfall area of the country and accumulating water in the pit sump forms part of the normal operating practice, thereby reducing raw water consumption from the Mokolo Dam.
“The amount of rain received in March, however, with a peak downpour of 230mm in a single day, exceeds the 1:50 year flood designs and therefore led to flooding of the pit bottom. Sound water and flood controls enabled the operation to return to acceptable production levels soon after the rains and thereafter to the normal production levels being achieved now,” Mthenjane explained.