Dangote’s Sephaku Cement sets out water management programmes

Sephaku Cement, powered by Dangote group, has set out dynamic water management programmes to save water for its operations and local community. The plant is now monitoring its water use and implementing water balancing programmes such as storm water management at its cement plants in South Africa.

The Aganang cement plant is situated approximately 40km west of the town of Lichtenburg, located in the water-stressed region of North West Province – South Africa.

Sephaku Cement’s water management programmes include active monitoring and water balancing programmes; storm water management and water use licensing process management; as well as water and environmental awareness programmes.

The flagship integrated clinker and cement production plant was designed to drain all stormwater that falls into the process areas into concrete lined canals and pathways, routing the water to a single discharge point where the wastewater is further directed into two Return Water Dams.

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The plant is connected to three water dams and features four operational pits that need constant deterring both for safety and to continue mining operations. Water from Sephaku Cement’s return water dam is recycled and re-used as process water and offsetting use of water from boreholes, allowing for groundwater to be used by local communities for agricultural activities which forms part of the company’s commitment to measurably reduce its water footprint.

Matsidiso Thelingwani, Sephaku Cement’s environmental performance manager, said: “Water is a precious resource shared by our communities, industries and local farmers, all of which are largely dependent on the area’s available groundwater resources.”

The three dams, have a combined storage capacity of about 320 000m³. The company’s mine has four operational pits, continuously dewatered both as a safety measure and to allow for continuation of mining purposes

According to Sephaku Cement, long-term water supply must ultimately be the overarching objective for both companies and industries. “Restoration and protection of our life-giving ecosystem, which rests in each of our spheres of control, all counts towards a contribution to reset existing imbalances.”