OUR GROOTEGELUK COMPLEX HAS AROUND 1 000 OFF-THE-ROAD (OTR) WASTE TYRES IN A DESIGNATED AREA WITH CONTROLLED ACCESS, STOCKPILE AND STACKING PLANS, AND FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES.
Expected to double in size within two years as the Grootegeluk complex expands, the waste tyre storage facility was built in response to a notice of non-compliance with regulations in 2016.
After the appointment of a waste tyre reprocessing contractor, the following benefits were realised:
Waste tyres were transported to the processing facility in Klerksoord, Pretoria
The waste stream was stopped by producing a coal substitute, tyre derived fuel (TDF), from waste tyre chips
TDF was transported to a cement kiln in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal
Exxaro's environmental performance was evaluated in line with triple bottom line reporting
A waste manifest was issued for each load of OTR tyres (signed by Exxaro as the waste generator, the transporter and the beneficiation facility) – the manifest is Exxaro's "safe disposal" certificate
The project is a first for the local mining industry with the potential for Exxaro to lead peers in sustainable environmental liability management on an operating mine. It will be rolled out at Exxaro's other BUs across South Africa over time.
