PROJECT INFORMATION
| Client: | Gold mine in the West Rand |
| Main contractor: | Local South African OEM supported by Atana |
| JV partners: | |
| Date: | |
| Location: | Gauteng, South Africa |
| Challenge: | |
| Solution: | Atana’s Crystalactor® system treats 5 Ml/day, converting dissolved minerals into valuable pellets with no hazardous byproducts. |
| Application: | Mine water softening |
| Impact: | Reduced waste, improved operations, and a self-sustaining system that delivers long-term value |
Hard water. Hard costs.
The mine’s existing system couldn’t effectively remove these excess minerals and solid deposits impacted water treatment and site operations.
Worse still, the removal process generated sludge with no resale value – just added cost and compliance issues.
Atana’s challenge? Find a solution that eliminates hard water’s effects, avoids waste, and delivers long-term economic benefits.
A circular approach to clean water
- Crystalactor® technology: This zero-waste system crystallises target minerals onto a seed material inside a fluidised bed reactor.
- Pellet formation: Instead of sludge, the process forms high-purity pellets that can be recovered, reused, or sold – creating a circular value chain.
- No hazardous waste: The system eliminates sludge disposal costs and environmental risks.
- High-volume performance: Crystalactor® is designed to treat 5 Ml (5 mega litres) of mineral-rich water daily.
- Ongoing impact: The mine’s team reports reliable performance and consistent results years after installation.
Beyond treatment, Atana enabled:
- A zero-waste alternative to conventional sludge-based solid liquid separation;
- An additional revenue stream through pellet recovery;
- Lower operational risk from blocked pipes and system strain; and
- A more sustainable, cost-effective water treatment process.
Waste turned into worth
By replacing sludge with saleable pellets, Crystalactor® technology not only cleans the mine’s water but also turns a compliance issue into a commercial opportunity.
As the only road that crosses the summit of the Drakensberg Mountain range, Sani Pass’s steep switchbacks, loose gravel, and sudden weather changes meant local communities faced dangerous journeys to access schools, healthcare, and trade routes.
But after nearly two decades of 24/7 operation, its systems were well past their prime. Power systems, water supply, waste management and heating – all critical to survival in Antarctica – were in dire straits.
Calcium and magnesium build-up caused “hard water,” which began to solidify – and clog pipes.
Many roads and vehicles were in poor condition, and safe, reliable transport remained out of reach for thousands.
Atana supported both projects through project management and Clerk of Works services spanning planning, design, procurement, contract administration and construction monitoring.
Designed and delivered by Atana as the primary engineering consultant, the project combines sustainability, speed, and technical ingenuity.
