WATCH: Tailings dam wall collapse causes massive mud flow near Brits
On Thursday, a tailings dam at Samancor Chrome’s Dikwena operation near Brits collapsed, sending muddy material towards Eland Mine and disrupting local electricity supply.
A tailings dam at Samancor Chrome's Dikwena operation near Brits collapsed on Thursday, causing a large mud flow towards neighboring Eland Mine. Samancor Chrome is a prominent chrome mining and ferrochrome producer in South Africa, with operations across the country. The incident occurred at Dikwena Chrome, one of the world's largest integrated ferrochrome producers.
Employees at Eland Mine's Maroelabult shaft observed mud covering the access road from the R566, later confirming the collapse of the Dikwena tailings facility's sidewalls. This led to the flow of muddy material towards Eland Mine, potentially damaging Eskom infrastructure and disrupting electricity supply to Brits, Hennops, and surrounding areas.
Samancor Chrome spokesperson Sunel Pretorius stated that the matter is still under investigation, with no reported injuries so far. The company is cooperating with authorities and has initiated clean-up and repair work. Samancor Chrome remains committed to ensuring the safety of its employees and the environment, with further measures to be implemented following the investigation's completion.
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