bamboo phytoremediation a holistic, long-term solution for rehabilitation of contaminated soil (and...

Bamboo PhytoremediationA holistic, long-term solution

for rehabilitation of contaminated soil(and much, much more!)

SAIMM – Johannesburg BranchPanel Discussion on Acid Mine Drainage

Military Museum, Johannesburg Zoo15 September 2011

Presented by : T W SimsVirtual State Solutions

Photo by Henk Coetzee

Bamboo Phytoremediation

Introduction

Bamboo has been successful in dealing with the legacy of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), in India. In particular revegetation of coal mine overburden dumps

Mining companies in SA have shown interest in planting bamboo to assist in land rehabilitation but no firm commitments at this stage.

Bambusa Balcooa, is our clumping, non-indigenous, non-invasive, locally propagated, bamboo species using tissue culture technology. It is ideally suited for phytoremediation and biomass feedstock.

No water permit is required.

If the mine is not yet closed, no EIA is needed and the EMP can be amended.

IntroductionGrowing Bamboo will not...

VSS ProposalInvestment

BenefitsThe way forward...


Bamboo plantations will not...

Grow whilst submerged in water

Convert contaminated water to produce potable/drinkable

water

But Bamboo plantations can...

Use Acid Mine Water(for irrigation purposes)

Adsorb unwanted heavy metals (e.g. Zinc, Chrome, Iron,

Lead) Adsorb unwanted toxic substances (e.g. Mercury,

Uranium) Reduce radio-activity levels

Increase pH levels Tolerate acidic soil

IntroductionBamboo plantations will not...




VSS Proposal

Secure Mine Land(long-term lease – zero cost)

Organise Preferential Finance

(DBSA, IDC, 3rd Parties)

Establish Bamboo Plantations

(life expectancy 20 years min.)

Build Bamboo Bio-Coal Plant(beneficiate bamboo raw

material 5th year onwards)

Harvest Bamboo Crop(from 4th year onwards)

VSS to manage project

Legal entity to be formed to protect individual interests of

all parties and address ownership and % share

distribution





Investment

Mining Company(Land & Rehabilitation Fee,

Performance Based)

Investors(Total – R 74,2m)

Bamboo Plantation – R 23,8m(400ha – 237,600 bamboo plants, yield 60,000 mt/y)Bio-Coal Plant – R 50,4m

(30,000 mt/y)

CommunityPart ownership within legal

entity and allocation of portion of crop for downstream

business activities (using raw bamboo material)

VSS Project Developer(Part ownership within legal entity, performance based

bonuses/penalties within SLA)





Benefits

Mining Company(Mine Land Rehabilitation

& full mine closure)

Investors(DBSA funds back with zero interest – Bonus! , IDC funds repaid with 8% interest! , 3rd parties repaid with market-

related interest)

Community(60 permanent & 20 casual

plantation jobs & 25 permanent bio-coal production

plant jobs created in rural area)

VSS Project Developer (Project management fees & performnace based bonuses/

penalties rewarding our initiative and on-going interest

in project's success)


VSS ProposalInvestmentBenefits

The way forward...


The way forward...

VSS's main challenge is to :

Secure finance through government aligned lending

institutions such as :

National Treasury's Jobs Fund

(administered by DBSA)

IDC who have already indicated

their interest in similar projects

(in particular bamboo!)

Get as many mining companies on board as soon as possible, by demonstrating the

efficacy of Bamboo Phytoremediation

as a holistic, long-term solution for rehabilitation of

contaminated soil and much, much more!




2011 - INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE FOREST.THANK-YOU FOR YOUR TIME

bamboo phytoremediation a holistic, long-term solution for rehabilitation of contaminated soil (and...

Documents

bamboo crop

bamboo species

bamboo plants

planting bamboo

bamboo plantation r

bamboo raw material

build bamboo biocoal

vss proposal investment