The FSE conducted a tour of the West Rand gold fields, DRD Gold’s and Sibanye-Stillwater’s operations and Gold Fields’ South Deep operations with an investment analyst of Perspective Investment Management on the 25th of June, 2018.
The FSE conducted a tour of the West Rand gold fields on the 2nd of July 2018 with Mr Nick Holland, the CEO of Gold Fields and concluded the tour with a visit to Gold Fields’ South Deep Mine.
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The FSE observed during its tour of the South Deep Mine that the dust from the historic tailings storage facilities (TSFs) is ameliorated by means of netting, rock cladding and vegetation. The historic TSFs have functioning toe paddocks, cut off trenches and are fenced with concrete palisade fencing with warning signs at prominent places. The pollution control dams are lined. The Doornpoort TSF (under construction) is effectively fenced off with warning signs. The slurry pipelines are designed in accordance with the onerous ASME B31.4 code. The steel pipelines are protected from external corrosion by a suitable coating or jacket. The pipelines are fitted with a leak detection system. The pipelines are supported on in-situ cast concrete supports with foundations located at predetermined intervals. The pipelines have berm walls and concrete spillage paddocks. Concurrent rehabilitation is conducted on the TSFs side walls. There are scavenger boreholes to detect seepage from the TSF and to pump it back into two lined pollution control dams. The FSE also conducted a tour with the South African Institute of Mechanical Engineers (Central Branch) on the 29th of June 2018 of Gold Fields’ South Deep Mine and witnessed the pouring of a gold bar. Stringent safety measures in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act, 29 of 1996 were followed by the Mine’s Management during the tour and visitation of the Plant. |
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