Kalgold dust mitigation

To improve PM emissions, Harmony continues to roll out mitigating measures at our gold plants through better operational controls, including the use of improved quality activated carbon and changes to more efficient abatement equipment where necessary, installing barriers such as artificial netting or trees, dust suppressants and rehabilitative vegetation.

We are installing dust netting barriers at our Kalgold operation in phases. Phase 1 of the installation commenced in September 2023 and was successfully completed in January 2024. A total of 19 650m of netting at 5m spacing intervals was installed at the northern and north-eastern top slopes of the TSF to reduce dust fallout in surrounding areas. The nets used were 1m high with a 40% density in accordance with a scientific model generated by Agreenco, who also determined which areas should be prioritised. The total cost of the project was R1.4 million.

The project also employed five local community members from the Kraaipan and Setlagole villages respectively, providing them with the skills needed for future dust mitigation projects.

From February to July 2024, the maintenance programme for the installed nets began, which included repairing torn netting, stabilising poles and the general monitoring of overall wind barrier conditions. During this phase, two of the five local community members stayed on to assist with the maintenance project.

Should phase 1 prove successful in reducing dust fallout from the TSF, phase 2 will kick off in September 2024 at a budgeted cost of R1.2 million.