Water Management

The Project will improve the water availability and quality for people in the affected area. Recognising the importance of managing the effects of mining on water (and vice versa), this aspect of the Project has been extensively studied as part of the Feasibility Study work. As is common practice with mining operations throughout the world, it will be necessary to maintain dry working conditions by pumping water continuously from deep tube wells around the mine site. To ensure that ground water levels are not unduly affected in the surrounding areas, some of this water is injected into the ground at a distance from the mine. This is a well proven and effective technique for controlling the extent of water table drawdown in existing mining operations elsewhere in the world.

GCM has developed a comprehensive Water Management Plan which will ensure that clean water extracted to facilitate mining is a community asset. This water is to be distributed for irrigation, village and town reticulated water supplies, local industries, power stations and the environment. At the end of the mine life, the final void/lake will cover 696 hectares and will fill with water to form a lake. This is anticipated to be a community benefit as the area is partially arid with a shortage of water in the dry season.