Mine prepares for closure

As the closure of the Hillendale Mine looms, Tronox KZN Sands’ rehabilitation specialists are rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty in preparation for the area’s future as a farmland.

At an annual rehabilitation meeting with stakeholders last week, planning and optimisation manager Eben Scholtz said all resources on the mineral sands mine, situated 20 kilometres outside Richards Bay, will be depleted by mid-December at the latest.

‘For the last two years, Hillendale hasn’t mined at a flat-out rate so we cannot extend it beyond December,’ said Scholtz.

‘With the operations closing, the mine’s neighbours have been very much involved in the rehab process with the main objective being to establish a productive agricultural end land use.’

Since 2007, Tronox has planted sugarcane on 14 hectares of various exhausted mining plants with yields ranging between 50 tons per hectare to 80 tons per hectare.

Other research projects have included trials on growing Eucalyptus trees, vegetables and rose geraniums, used to produce essential oils on Shepley Farm outside Mtunzini.

Rehabilitation activities will continue until end 2018 as approved by the Environmental Management Plan but Tronox estimates that it will maintain a presence at the site up to around 2030 with its current business plan.

‘Until we are granted closure by government, in which case the State will take full responsibility for the land, the property will still be classified as a mine,’ said Scholtz.

‘You can’t just walk away.’

To finance the farming activities, the mine next year will start accessing the Hillendale Mine Closure Fund.

Meanwhile, Tronox is making headway with its Fairbreeze Mine situated south of Mtunzini, which will serve as a replacement source of feedstock production for Hillendale.

Since being granted a water use license last month by the Department of Water Affairs, Tronox has proposed to implement a Wetland Rehabilitation Programme for a site located within the Siyaya River catchment to restore its wetland function.

It is also applying for permission to upgrade an existing bridge to improve access for mining operations.

Tronox hopes Fairbreeze Mine will commence operations in 2016.