Mining Market Challenges
Understanding the Imperatives
Depending on their location, mines in Africa are facing two opposite challenges. Positive water balance mines accumulate water during the rainy season. This water is polluted and must be treated before being released in a compliant manner. In dry countries, water scarcity threatens the mining industry and reuse is key.
Finally, because treatments often involve membranes, a common challenge lies with brine management.
Urgent intervention is required to help mining companies mitigate these challenges.
As regards energy, and increased focus on ESG, the mining industry is looking at decarbonising its activities.
Veolia’s solutions for the Mining Industry
Veolia’s solutions for the mining industry are centered around creating a circular economy through our holistic approach to water, waste, and energy needs of mining sites.
We deliver a complete management of the water cycle, aimed at optimizing consumption and reducing environmental impact through water reuse.
We recover valuable by-products from your waste streams for beneficial reuse. Veolia also proposes to support our Clients in their energy transition.
We investigate a range of technologies to customize solutions meeting the specific needs of the sites, encompassing compliance and cost savings.
Sustainable Funded Environmental Solutions
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Solutions
Water and salt management
- Complete management of water cycle
- Desalination for process / industrial water
- Acid mine drainage management
- Tailing water & salts management
- Water reuse / - effluent treatment
- Underground water management
- Domestic wastewater treatment
- Drinking water production for mine camp and communities
- Metal recovery
- By-product recovery from brine deconcentration
Decarbonization
- Power generation from renewable energy for the mine and communities
- Chillers management
- Cooling towers management
- Compressors / Bulk Air Cooling management
Waste management
- Onsite waste management
- Transportation
- Waste treatment and disposal
- Landfill / Hazardous waste disposal
- Mercury collection, stabilization and recoverya
Veolia comprehensive approach
Our aim is to create an environmental circular economy, through our holistic approach to the water, waste and energy needs of our customers. We develop a phased methodology ending with a turnkey proposal. We assess the customer`s needs, divide these into smaller projects studied with our in-house expertise and technologies to make available the best possible solutions. By applying interlinked solutions across water, waste and energy, the synergies of resource sustainability are achieved. Veolia’s mine management solutions are proven to help mining companies achieve improved environmental sustainability.
Explore and download our Case Studies
Discover how leading industries are achieving their goals with Veolia’s expertise.
🇿🇦 South Africa | Harmony Gold Kusasalethu: Total Water Management for Deep Mining Operations
At the Kusasalethu gold mine, Veolia implemented a comprehensive water management solution covering settler circuits, surface cooling systems, and RO systems. The initiative improved water quality monitoring and equipment maintenance, reducing operational costs and enhancing environmental compliance.
🇬🇭 Ghana | AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi: Comprehensive Water and Salt Management
To support the redevelopment of its Obuasi gold mine, AngloGold Ashanti partnered with Veolia to manage six water treatment plants, including four for industrial wastewater and two for drinking water. The project also includes a salt valorization initiative, converting waste brine into gypsum and magnesium hydroxide for local industries.
🇩🇪 Germany | LMBV: Abandoned Mine Water Treatment for Rehabilitation
In Eastern Germany, Veolia manages water treatment operations across several abandoned lignite mining sites under contract with LMBV. By implementing sludge reduction and advanced data transmission systems, Veolia treats over 37 million m³ of mine water annually, significantly reducing disposal costs and environmental impact.
🇨🇿 Czech Republic | OKD Karvina: Comprehensive Utility Supply for Mining Operations
In Karvina, Veolia supplies critical utilities, including compressed air, electricity, and cooling, to one of Europe’s largest mining complexes. The project includes a tri-generation system and a nitrogen production facility, ensuring continuous operations while optimizing energy efficiency and reducing CO₂ emissions.
Increase cost savings,
maintained through consistent process audits
Reduce energy bills
and carbon footprint
Improve water recovery & overall yield,
to deliver consistent water supply & enable by-product recovery
Ensure measurement of environmental impact
& compliance with regulations
Enable flexibility & performance stability,
enabling resilience in a volatile market
Customer
Benefits