Treatment methods for water pollution from coal mining in Moatize (Mozambique)

Abstract: Moatize district located in Tete province in the center of Mozambique has one of the largest unexploited coal deposits of the world with a capacity of 2.5 billions of tones. Recently many multinational coal mine companies started exploitation of coal in Moatize. Coal exploitation has economical, social and environmental impacts. The main environmental impact is generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) which can pollute surface and groundwater. The aim of this work was to describe and assess the main impact of mining activities on water resource in Moatize and to describe treatment methods for polluted water. The methodology used was literature review and visits realized in different institutions of Mozambique. Different active and passive methods for AMD were described throughout the report. It can be conclude that the impact of AMD in Moatize will not significantly affect the Zambezi river due to its big flow but it can be severe in small tributaries because some of them pass through the mining section. Water pollution can affect the population of Moatize negatively because they depend in agriculture and fishing to survive. There were not enough data to decide which treatment method can be applied for Moatize, but based on data from an old mine from Moatize it was possible to conclude that aerobic wetland and lime-limestone neutralization could be used. It is recommended to collect extensive data from mining companies in Moatize to make more detailed investigation about different treatment methods.