Mintek’s Drive to Clean, Recover and Reuse Every Drop of South Africa’s Most Vital Resource, Water
Mintek’s Drive to Clean, Recover and Reuse Every Drop of South Africa’s Most Vital Resource, Water
Dr Keneiloe Khoabane, Executive Manager of the Advanced Materials Division at Mintek, situates the organisation’s work in water treatment at the intersection of two defining realities in South Africa, the importance of the mining industry to the country’s economy and the challenges of water scarcity. For decades, mining has supported economic development, yet it has also left behind complex water challenges, particularly in the form of acid mine drainage and contaminated wastewater streams. These waters, often laden with sulphates, heavy metals, and acidity, do not remain confined to mine sites, they move through river systems, seep into groundwater, and ultimately affect ecosystems, agriculture, and communities that depend on these resources for survival.
In a country already classified as water-scarce, where rainfall is uneven and demand continues to rise due to urbanisation and industrial growth, the consequences of untreated or poorly managed mine-impacted water are far-reaching. Water scarcity in South Africa is not a distant risk, it is a present and intensifying constraint on development, placing increasing pressure on industry to move beyond compliance and actively contribute to water stewardship, recovery, and reuse.
This national imperative is not only widely recognised, it is explicitly articulated in South Africa’s Critical Minerals Strategy, which identifies integrated water management as essential to the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the mining sector. As Dr Molefi Motuku, CEO of Mintek, notes, “Integrated water management is fundamental to sustainable mining. South Africa’s infrastructure planning must prioritise strategic investment in water recycling, desalination, and efficient water management systems. These interventions are essential not only to sustain mining and broader economic activity, but to safeguard communities and protect the environment. As the sector advances, the integration of digital technologies, supported by robust infrastructure, will further enable smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable mining operations.”
It is within this context that Mintek has positioned water as a strategic priority. As Dr Keneiloe Khoabane explains, “Through sustained research and development, Mintek has focused on creating advanced, locally relevant water treatment technologies that respond directly to the challenges posed by mining, while also contributing to broader national water security. These innovations are not limited to improving water quality at source, they are designed to enable the recovery and reuse of water, reduce environmental harm, and support the mining sector in meeting its social, environmental, and governance obligations.”
Mintek’s work in this space reflects a long-standing alignment with these national priorities. Well before the growing emphasis on integrated water management at policy level, the organisation has been developing and piloting technologies that enable water recycling, reduce dependence on freshwater sources, and mitigate the environmental impact of mining.
Mintek’s technologies address the core problem of mine-impacted water by targeting the removal of sulphates, heavy metals, and toxic acidity, transforming polluted effluent into water that can be reused for industrial processes, agricultural purposes, or further treated for wider applications. The SAVMIN™ process provides a cost-efficient solution for treating acid mine drainage with high concentrations of metals and sulphates and has already been piloted at scale in Randfontein, demonstrating its ability to treat contaminated water directly at source. Similarly, the cloSURE™ process applies biological treatment methods to manage high sulphate and metal content, with successful large-scale piloting at the Emalahleni Water Reclamation Plant where treated water has been used for crop irrigation, illustrating a clear pathway from mining waste to productive use. Complementing these is the NICMeR® low-fouling ultrafiltration membrane technology, which is capable of removing particulates, macromolecules, and harmful pollutants, enabling water reuse across a range of industrial applications, with further potential in municipal wastewater systems.
What distinguishes these technologies is not only their technical effectiveness, but their adaptability and broader relevance. While developed to address mine-impacted water, their application extends beyond the boundaries of mining operations. In a water-constrained country, the ability to convert contaminated water into a usable resource represents a significant opportunity. The transfer of such technologies into community and municipal contexts offers a practical means of supplementing water supply, reducing pressure on existing infrastructure, and supporting more resilient local water systems.
This approach aligns with the global imperative captured in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which calls for access to clean water and sanitation for all. Mintek’s contribution lies in translating this ambition into practical, scalable solutions grounded in South Africa’s realities. The organisation’s work demonstrates that water treatment is not only an environmental requirement, but a developmental lever, one that can unlock new value from existing resources while mitigating the long-term impacts of mining.
As Dr Molefi Motuku concludes, “Water is not a secondary consideration in mining, it is a central determinant of sustainability, resilience, and long-term value. At Mintek, we are advancing solutions that shift water from a constraint to an opportunity, enabling its recovery, reuse, and responsible management across the mining value chain. As we observe Water Month, we call on industry partners to work with us in scaling these innovations, strengthening water stewardship, and ensuring that mining contributes not only to economic growth, but to the protection of one of South Africa’s most vital resources.”