Johannesburg, 13/02/2013 – Two of Botswana’s largest copper mining companies have contracted Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies South Africa through its subsidiary, VWS Envig Botswana, to supply containerised wastewater treatment plants to improve the quality of discharge water coming from mine camps.

“A copper mining project in north-western Botswana has already received its new 90m3 per day trickling filter treatment plant, which we delivered in December,” says Wayne Taljaard, General Manager at Veolia’s Engineered Systems & Services. “The entire solution was designed to be upgraded to 180m3 per day, and we have already begun manufacturing the second containerised plant at our factory in Isando for delivery in March, 2013.”

Together, the plants will treat domestic sewage generated by nearly 900 people to within legislated discharge standards, before being released into surface water streams.

A second copper mining company, a longstanding Veolia customer, has commissioned a 75m3 per day trickling filter wastewater treatment plant to upgrade sewage generated by roughly 350 residents at its mine camp in north-eastern Botswana.

“This trickling filter plant, along with all ancillary equipment, will be completely containerised and delivered in March, 2013. The customer opted to construct a separate septic tank, which means both modular and civil construction principles will be used to build this plant – what we call a hybrid installation,” says Taljaard.

Typically, Veolia will include the septic tank within a standard 12-metre container, which allows the entire plant to be transported via road to remote locations. Containers are corrosion protected and completely water tight, and with minimal moving parts that need maintenance, they are ideally-suited for operation in remote African settlements. “Once installed, they are remote monitored and only need an operator to do a daily inspection, making them incredibly cost-effective to run,” says Taljaard.

Water industry growth in BotswanaVWS Envig Botswana is growing significantly in the semi-arid country’s water market, recently being awarded a contract to design, supply and commission a 6 000 m3 per day potable water plant in Maun, northern Botswana. The plant, located near the banks of the Thamalakane River, is scheduled to be commissioned in September, 2013, and will be operated and maintained by Veolia for a subsequent six-month period.

Previous Veolia installations in the country include a large-scale reverse osmosis plant for a diamond mine near Francistown, as well as a large-scale demineralisation plant at a high-capacity power plant.***Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies, subsidiary of Veolia Water, is a leading design & build company and a specialised provider of technological solutions in water treatment. With 10,767 employees, Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies recorded revenue of €2.315 billion in 2011. www.veoliawaterst.com

Veolia Water, the water division of Veolia Environnement, is the world leader in water and wastewater services. Specialised in outsourcing services for municipal authorities, as well as industrial and service companies, it is also one of the world’s major designers of technological solutions and constructor of facilities needed in water and wastewater services. With 96,651 employees in 69 countries, Veolia Water provides water service to 103 million people and wastewater service to 73 million. Its 2011 revenue amounted to €12.617 billion. www.veoliawater.com

Contact:Gunter RenckenManaging DirectorVeolia Water Solutions & Technologies South Africa (Pty) Ltdwww.veoliawaterst.co.zaTel: 011 663 3600 Fax: 011 608 4772E-mail: info.southafrica@veoliawater.com

From:   CubicICE (Pty) Ltd (011) 705 2545Submitted:   Zelda Onay [zeldao@cubicice.com]Compiled:   Ryan JoubertPR:   PR VWS 3525 Botswana mining projects