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
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, noninvasive, 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...
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...
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)


VSS to manage project
Legal entity to be formed to
protect individual interests of
all parties and address
ownership and % share
distribution

Introduction
Bamboo plantations will not...
VSS Proposal
Investment
Benefits
The way forward...
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)

VSS Project Developer
(Part ownership within legal
entity, performance based
bonuses/penalties within SLA)
Introduction
Bamboo plantations will not...
VSS Proposal
Investment
Benefits
The way forward...
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 marketrelated 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...
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
and much, much more!

Introduction
Bamboo plantations will not...
VSS Proposal
Investment
Benefits
The way forward...
2011 - INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE FOREST.
THANK-YOU FOR YOUR TIME