Glencore, Anglo Mines Pollute South Africa Water, Group Says

(Bloomberg) -- South African coal mines operated by companies such as Glencore Plc and Anglo American Plc are polluting parts of Mpumalanga province as they fail to comply with their water licenses, according to an environmental group.

The water use licenses, which also include mines run by South32 Ltd. and Exxaro Resources Ltd., were assessed in a report by the Centre for Environmental Rights. The study found “gross violations and water pollution by the operators,” it said.

South Africa, the most industrialized nation on the continent, uses coal for more than 90% of its electricity generation. While environmental groups have raised awareness of premature deaths caused by power plant pollution, the new study found “massive failures” by the Department of Water & Sanitation to effectively regulate water licenses.

“The pollution of South Africa's precious water resources occurs on a particularly egregious scale in areas with high levels of mining activity,” according to the report. “The mining of coal is particularly harmful, with acid mine drainage from coal mines polluting surface and groundwater with acid, salts and metals.”

Glencore, Anglo American, Exxaro and South32 each said they would review the findings before responding in more detail. The Department of Water didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Burkhardt in Johannesburg at pburkhardt@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: James Herron at jherron9@bloomberg.net, Helen Robertson, Rakteem Katakey

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