Bamboo Phytoremediation

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Photo by Henk Coetzee
Bamboo Phytoremediation A holistic, long-term
solution for rehabilitation of contaminated
soil (and much, much more!) SAIMM Johannesburg
Branch Panel Discussion on Acid Mine
Drainage Military Museum, Johannesburg Zoo 15
September 2011 Presented by T W Sims Virtual
State Solutions
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• 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.

Introduction Growing Bamboo will not... VSS
Proposal Investment Benefits The way forward...

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• Bamboo Phytoremediation
• 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

Introduction Bamboo plantations will not... VSS
Proposal Investment Benefits The way forward...

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• Bamboo Phytoremediation
• 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)

Introduction Bamboo plantations will not... VSS
Proposal Investment Benefits The way forward...

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• Bamboo Phytoremediation
• 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)
• Community
• Part ownership within legal entity and allocation
  of portion of crop for downstream business
  activities (using raw bamboo material)

Introduction Bamboo plantations will not... VSS
Proposal Investment Benefits The way forward...

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• Bamboo Phytoremediation
• 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)

Introduction Bamboo plantations will not... VSS
Proposal Investment Benefits The way forward...

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• Bamboo Phytoremediation
• 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

Introduction Bamboo plantations will not... VSS
Proposal Investment Benefits The way forward...

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