AFRICA the Australian energy consultant Ensight to review its energy expenditure , during which process it identified $ 20 million of potential savings . Three years on the exercise has really delivered . “ We saved $ 5.3 million in energy costs , received R 23.1 million from Eskom in recognition of our performance , saved enough power for 77,400 households plus enough water to sustain 2,050 elephants for a year , and cut greenhouse gases weighing as much as 12,850 fully grown elephants !”
Continuing the analogies , his favourite one is that enough coal was saved to drive a steam train from Cape Town to Cairo and back , 17 times . “ It has gained us awards and set an example to other big businesses in the country . In our way we are trying to fight climate change and contribute towards good environmental practices ,” he says .
For Maboko Mahlaole , who has been tackling employment issues for 35 years , people come first . “ I am optimistic that the focus is not now solely on the individual – there is a new concern for communities . If you do not pay attention to what is happening around you may not survive long as a business !”
Perhaps that ’ s why PMC has seen very little in the way of industrial discontent ( over a period of some turmoil in the country as a whole ). There is no migrant labour here , living in camps . Almost all of the 2,400 employees working at Palabora live en famille within 20 kilometres of the mine , coming to work on company buses .
Company Information
INDUSTRY
Copper Mining
HEADQUARTERS
Limpopo , S . A .
FOUNDED
2012
EMPLOYEES
2,400
REVENUE
R4 billion
PRODUCTS / SERVICES
South Africa ’ s large copper mine , smelter and refinery complex . www . palabora . com 51