Kolomela supplies Postdene residents with water tanks
Tue 26/01/2021 12:09
Kumba Iron Ore’s Kolomela mine achieved two significant milestones by ensuring water supply to Postdene residents and by developing local suppliers in the process. This is a substantial contribution to the community’s sustainable development, leaving an impact for years to come.
The second phase of the 360 water tank installation project is now ready to be handed over to the mine’s Housing Department and Bidvest. The project, which provides 200 households with water, entailed the installation of 200 water tanks with a capacity of 2500 litres each. Each tank is accompanied by a pressure pump on a newly casted concrete base. The water supply line of a house is connected with the water tank. Electrical connections are installed and the pump is covered in a steel mesh cage.
“This phase, which provides half a million litres of water, follows the first phase, which provided 160 water tanks to the area in 2016. It was implemented after a proper water supply and pressure investigation was launched as part of phase 1 in 2015 and again as part of phase 2 in 2019. Postdene regularly faced critical water supply issues with households being without water for extended periods,” said Lood Coetzee, Kolomela’s Corporate Affairs Technical Manager.
A local supplier, Luthan Consulting, purchased all the necessary material for supply to the two construction contractors, RG Goeieman Construction and MJ & CH Holdings, for implementation. Both these contractors completed their first water tank installations, while Loods Coetzee provided onsite training and guidance to them.
The implementation of the second phase started in January 2020 but was temporarily placed on hold in March due to the Covid-19 national lockdown. The work resumed in June 2020 and was completed at the end of November 2020. The project at the value of almost R5,5-million was initiated, planned and funded by Kolomela mine.
This project forms part of the Municipal Capacity Development Programme (MCDP), which entails Anglo American collaborating with government to address the challenges faced by the rural communities surrounding its mines. The MCDP’s primary objective is to strengthen institutional capacity to enhance municipal service delivery and sustainability.
Anglo American’s partnership with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) on the MCDP, demonstrates its ambition to exist alongside thriving communities through effective public-private partnerships.
Pics Kolomela 1, 2 & 3
The tanks, pressure pumps in mesh cages, and concrete slabs provided at 200 households at Postdene.
