Environment

As the SDO operate within the environmental footprint of our host mines, we adhere to the culture and standards of their policies and practices at all times.

In the past financial year, there have been no reportable environmental incidents, which is testament to the work ethos of the teams at the operations. The Company generates minimal hazardous waste due to the nature of the processing of the tailings, and waste removal is conducted by a contractor with the necessary permits to remove and transport hazardous waste to a designated landfill site.

All Sylvania plants form part of the integrated water reticulation circuits of their respective host mines. The figures listed below do not take any water consumption figures of the host mine into account. Water enters the Sylvania circuit through the current arisings it receives from the host mine, and it leaves the circuit through either its products (Cr₂O₃ concentrate or PGM concentrate) – or it is lost to the process (consumed) or alternatively through the tailings stream. The tailings are deposited onto a Tailings Dam, where most water is recovered into the Return Water Dam, and recirculated to the host mine process. Losses on the tailings dams take the form of evaporation into the atmosphere. Make-up water is derived from the dewatering of the host mine underground mining areas.

Total water volume in cubit metres (m³)

The reduction in water consumed and deposited is attributable to the change in feed sources and to the lower requirements when the plants were placed on care and maintenance as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown.