Sharp, sharp!
Let's start right where we left off, 50 miles west of Johannesburg at the Blyvooruitzicht Gold Mine. Much like South Africa's abandoned mines more generally, Blyvooruitzicht is in need of a creative solution if anyone is going to clean it up.
New owners are looking to purchase specific assets from the mine -- a slimes dam here, a shaft here (the above photo is shaft 5, which the new management bought) -- in order to remove what profitable ore remains. In a strange twist, environmentalists may be on board, and this new plan may be beneficial for the environment. What will happen to the rest of the mine, how much money is available in mine closure trust funds for rehabilitation and how this new plan will affect the environment...all these questions are still to be answered.
This latest jaunt into South Africa's mining industry looks to answer Blyvoor's questions, as well as those asked by mining communities, zamas and activists around the country. More to come.
Cheers,
Mark
Let's start right where we left off, 50 miles west of Johannesburg at the Blyvooruitzicht Gold Mine. Much like South Africa's abandoned mines more generally, Blyvooruitzicht is in need of a creative solution if anyone is going to clean it up.
New owners are looking to purchase specific assets from the mine -- a slimes dam here, a shaft here (the above photo is shaft 5, which the new management bought) -- in order to remove what profitable ore remains. In a strange twist, environmentalists may be on board, and this new plan may be beneficial for the environment. What will happen to the rest of the mine, how much money is available in mine closure trust funds for rehabilitation and how this new plan will affect the environment...all these questions are still to be answered.
This latest jaunt into South Africa's mining industry looks to answer Blyvoor's questions, as well as those asked by mining communities, zamas and activists around the country. More to come.
Cheers,
Mark
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