Desalination helps South32’s KZN aluminium smelter beat water woes

To ensure sustainable operations in drought-stricken Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, diversified miner South32 has invested R74-million in a seawater desalination plant that uses membrane technology to produce cooling process water for its Hillside aluminium smelter. The diversified miner appointed engineering and environmental consultancy JG Afrika the principal agent for the project, initially tasking it with investigating water-saving techniques to reduce the average 1.5 Mℓ/d water demand at Hillside.