Mining is a sector that is particularly vulnerable to climate change. In an effort to better lives in Africa and beyond, and to reduce our carbon footprint, Exxaro believes that investing responsibly and strategically in commodities will help to sustain life on the continent. From how we mine to what we mine, we’re stewarding our natural assets and social capital and using them both to build happy, healthy communities for a better place to live.
The conneXXion includes a range of features aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of our employees while minimising its environmental footprint. In addition to e-parking bays, the building also boasts a central staircase aimed at encouraging employees to avoid using the lifts. The conneXXion has achieved a 6 Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).
The conneXXion’s environmental features include:
Water metres that monitor consumption and detect leakage
158 kl water storage tanks for rainwater collection
Light fittings equipped with both occupancy and daylight harvesting sensors
Energy-efficient air-conditioning, hot-water heating, lifts, and escalator systems
Energy metres to constantly monitor and manage consumption
Photovoltaic panels to improve the energy balance of the building
Building performance dashboards that educate both occupants and visitors about the sustainability initiatives implemented
While the mining industry faces great challenges from various influences, the key to remaining relevant is to incorporate emerging technologies into business operations, emphasise socio-economic reformation and enforce a strong commitment to sustainability. All of which are already part of our strategy to power better lives in Africa and beyond.
At Exxaro, our vision is as simple as this: we want to make a positive impact on the world. We aim to power better lives in Africa and beyond by responsibly investing in commodities that will sustain life on the continent. This goal is being realised by fulfilling basic and primary needs, the things that keep us functioning as a society, through energy, water, and food. We manage to do all this through our commodities and investments in renewable energy, which we are using to fuel our future. Through our growth and innovation, we are working towards becoming an unstoppable source of endless possibilities.
The mining industry competes with other sectors for precious natural resources, such as land and water. In South Africa, the situation is exacerbated by a legacy of more than 100 years of mining, which has led to various environmental challenges, such as acid mine drainage and dust from dumps. As a responsible corporate citizen that plays an active role in protecting and preserving the environment, Exxaro is always looking for ways to maximise our net positive footprint.
Our wind farm, Amakhala Emoyeni in the Eastern Cape, supplies approximately 450,559 MWh of electricity a year to Eskom’s electricity network, and is expected to offset approximately 445,152 tons of CO² a year from the atmosphere. Through various integrated measures, over the past five years, we’ve reduced our greenhouse gas (GMG) emissions by 17% per copper equivalent unit.
We’re also committed to using water as efficiently as possible. At our Grootegeluk Mine, we’ve constructed cyclic ponds that reclaim all water and material from the mine’s fines complex. Our Matla Coal Mine uses desalination technology to convert water from its underground mine into drinking water. In doing so, Matla has released over three million kilolitres of safe water into the Olifants catchment.
Everything Exxaro does today is geared toward ensuring a safer and more sustainable tomorrow. With careful management, innovative policies and a spirit of full accountability, we can continue to create a positive impact in the country’s economy and its people for generations to come.
In the age of worsening pollution crises and global warming, individuals and communities are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of the way we live and work at the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We remain committed to being part of the solution as South Africa works towards setting an example of sustainable development for the rest of the continent, and indeed, the world.
