Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 4 hrs ago
South32 plans to pump mine water into the ocean from Groote Eylandt
South32 plans to pump mine water into the ocean from its GEMCO manganese mine on Groote Eylandt in Australia's Northern Territory.
The company proposes about 12 kilometres of pipelines and pumps to send up to 80 gigalitres of water a year into Milner Bay.
Flooding, including after Cyclone Megan in 2024 and during other wet seasons, has made water management a major challenge for the mine.
The project is intended to become the mine's main way to manage excess water, as South32 faces sharply higher production costs and plans to cut spending.
The Anindilyakwa Land Council, which represents traditional owners, supports the plan, and the NT government has approved it with environmental conditions.
Construction cannot start without traditional owner consent because some infrastructure would cross Aboriginal-owned land, and discussions are continuing.
South32 says the discharged water will be clean, and the infrastructure is intended to serve for the rest of the mine's life; traditional owners expect the mine to close early in the next decade.
South32 plans to spend $100 million on pipelines and pumps to discharge mine water from Groote Eylandt into the ocean.
The project would move up to 80 gigalitres of water a year from the mine to Milner Bay through about 12 kilometres of pipelines.
The plan has environmental approval from the Northern Territory government and support from traditional owners through the Anindilyakwa Land Council.
Further consultation and traditional owner consent are required because some infrastructure would be built on Aboriginal-owned land.
South32 says the project would help manage excess water as flooding drives up costs and threatens the mine’s viability.
- Who
- South32 and its majority-owned Groote Eylandt Mining Company plan the project.
- What
- They plan to build pumps and pipelines to discharge mine water into the ocean.
- When
- The project is planned, but work cannot begin without traditional owner consent. The sources give no start date.
- Where
- From the manganese mine on Groote Eylandt to Milner Bay in the Northern Territory.
- Why
- Excess water has increased management costs and poses a financial challenge for keeping the mine operating.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Tropical Cyclone Megan brought water to Groote Eylandt’s mining operations.
The Anindilyakwa Land Council had been discussing the plan with GEMCO and the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority.
South32 released a quarterly report saying next financial year’s production forecasts depended on the infrastructure being built.
- Planned spending
- $100 million
- Maximum water volume
- Up to 80 gigalitres per year
- Pipeline length
- About 12 kilometres
- Discharge location
- Milner Bay, Groote Eylandt
- Required approval
- Traditional owner consent for infrastructure on Aboriginal-owned land
What people are saying
The ALC is satisfied with the NT EPA's response, and this coupled with the other environmental practices are designed to meet the traditional owner expectations that risk for environmental harm is minimised
GEMCO is one of the Territory’s most significant mining operations and a major employer and contributor to the Groote Eylandt economy
GEMCO currently manages excess water through a range of pathways, including bush discharge and riverine discharge … water is also used at processing facilities and for dust suppression
The excess water disposal project is intended to become GEMCO’s primary pathway for managing excess water