UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP); Detailed technical design for acid mine water treatment in Novo Brdo Mine, Artana / KOSOSVO

摘要

In the past, Trepca Mining & Metallurgical Complex was the backbone of the economy of Kosovo with mining being Kosovo's premier industry. One of the mines belonging to the Trepca Group of Mines is the lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) mine at Artana/Novo Brdo, located 22 km (38 km by car) east of Prishtina. Some mining operations still continue. There are large amounts of tailings and mine waste heaps at the site, and thus, acidic waters contaminated with hazardous substances are discharged into the Krivareka (aka Marevc) River (Aikaterini 2012).The purpose of this project was to prepare the detailed technical design for the treatment of this acid mine drainage to neutralize the acidity and to eliminate the flow of heavy metals and other contaminants into the river. Thus, a significant source of heavy metal pollution in the area was to be eliminated.GEOtest a.s. and Fichtner Water & Transportation GmbH, Department Mining & Environment were contracted by UNDP Kosovo as engineering consultants for the project. In a first phase, the Consultants collected and analyzed available data on geology, geography, hydrology, hydrogeology, land use etc., collected new data and performed all necessary surveys, laboratory tests, sampling and site investigations necessary to prepare a detailed technical design for an acid mine waters treatment plant.The results of this first phase were crucial in order to determine the sources and the scale of the pollutants as well as the flow regime of contaminated water. This information was important to determine the remediation method, the most suitable location and the water treatment technology.On the basis of these data, the Consultant made recommendations on the choice of the appropriate water treatment technology to assure the proper treatment of the acid mine drainage. Following the selection of the treatment technology in cooperation with the Client and Beneficiaries, the Detailed Technical Design for an active treatment technology was developed.