Kumba

In 2016, drought left iron ore supplier Kumba struggling to tackle multiple challenges including water scarcity, dust and ill-health across its workforce and local communities. Drought and flooding remain a looming risk for the company, and, having been caught on the back foot once, the company has worked to build its resilience, both for its own operations and the local community. Excess renewable groundwater is pumped from Kumba operations to the local water authority for treatment and redistribution and the Kolomela mine facility artificially recharges clean mine water to underground aquifers for use by local farmers. And while risk management targets are set at the company level, sites develop their own strategies to reach them, considering local circumstances, while suppliers are also engaged on risk-management, self-assessment and audit processes to enhance knowledge and ensure successful implementation.