Acid mine drainage exposes nearly three million people to polluted water in South Africa’s key mining provinces. Johannesburg-based Nafasi Water secured 160 million rand ($9.8 million) from Norfund, as well as new investments from South Africa-based impact investor E Squared Investments to design, finance, build and operate water infrastructure and treatment plants for mining companies. “The extent of the backlog in water infrastructure investment, coupled with deteriorating catchment resilience due to climate and pollution factors, has accelerated water insecurity for many communities,” said Nafasi’s Suzie Nkambule. E Squared is a returning investor. Climate Fund Managers‘ $7.2 million investment will support Nafasi’s Arnot project for water treatment in the province of Mpumalanga.
Job creation
South Africa is phasing out coal, putting nearly 200,000 jobs at risk in Mpumalanga, where more than two-thirds of the country’s coal plants are located. Nafasi’s upskilling programs are meant to generate technical jobs within the region while strengthening local expertise in water treatment.
