To prioritise environmental sustainability and community wellbeing, Phalanndwa has embarked on a robust mine rehabilitation project. The rehabilitation, which began in March 2024, is scheduled to be completed by November 2024 for Phalanndwa Extension. Phalanndwa commenced mining in January 2013 while Phalanndwa Extension – the mine’s extension project – commenced mining in July 2019. All coal reserves have been depleted. To date, 420 026 m3 of backfilling has been completed since the start of the rehabilitation process.

Eric Vuma, Phalanndwa’s dayshift foreman, is responsible for overseeing the rehabilitation and coordinating the rehabilitation process at Phalanndwa. He highlights the importance of integrating rehabilitation into the mine development process. “It’s crucial to consider rehabilitation in the mine plan while the mine is being developed and not when it reaches the end of its life. We are committed to following the rehabilitation plan and working closely with land surveyors to ensure a seamless process,” says Eric. It appears that everything is going according to schedule, with plans to begin reseeding after 40 hectares of rehabilitation have been finished. The mine also seems to be on track to complete rehabilitation by the deadline assigned to them.