“Jubilee Metals were looking for a brand new way of controlling dust on the mine that would be cleaner for the environment,” says JC Le Roux, Head of Business Development – Africa at Bind-X. “The company likes sustainable approaches and they are genuinely committed to responsible mining practices.”

Their environmental stewardship and investment in community well-being has guided their approach to every project, including their latest initiative during the exploration stage of the greenfield Munkoyo Project in Zambia.

The project team knew they had to take particular care of this section of road to keep the dust down long term and stabilise the road year-round.

They also noticed that the school’s soccer pitch, a central space for the students’ recreation, was overgrown with weeds and thorns and nearly unusable.

Jubilee Metals had tried various dust control options before on their other mine sites but sought a better approach that aligned with their sustainable vision, while also keeping operational costs down.

“There’s some light vehicle traffic currently, but there’s going to be a steady stream of vehicles travelling past once the site is operational which could generate a lot of dust, so it wouldn’t be good near the local school,” says JC.

Plain water was not a good option as it would have yielded poor results. Dust suppression from water would only last temporarily, and need constant reapplication. Further, they knew that plain water sprayed on the road would reduce road stability and worsen the problem over time.

They had considered traditional dust control products like bitumen emulsion and polymers. While they would have kept dust down, neither were particularly clean for the environment, with the potential for run-off to local waterways.

Their next step was to consider new technologies that would be safe for people, plants and surrounding streams. They had already used Terrabind biological dust control by Bind-X at their operating mines and had seen great results, so realised it could be ideal for this new project.

Jubilee Metals chose to use a 100% natural biological binder called Terrabind. It works using a natural biocementation process in the soil. Naturally occurring bacteria devour the nutrients in soil and convert it to a mineral.

“That mineral becomes a glue that binds soil particles together. You end up with solidified soil, which you’ll see in natural structures like termite mounds and coral,” explains JC.

The project team decided to apply this clean binding agent to the feed roads in front of the school to lock the soil particles together and prevent fugitive dust. By treating the 1 km stretch of road in front of the school with Terrabind, the company significantly reduced dust levels, ensuring cleaner air for the children and the surrounding community. 

The application process was easily integrated into their existing operations, using regular water trucks for weekly reapplications. As traffic increases with the project’s progression, the frequency of application will be adjusted to maintain air quality, potentially as often as once daily.

Beyond dust reduction, Jubilee Metals extended their efforts to improve the school’s soccer field. The team graded the field, removed weeds and thorns, and treated it with a lighter application of Terrabind to create a safe, even surface for play. Care was taken to ensure the field remained soft enough for sports activities.

When we heard about the school, “We thought, how about we do something as well?” says JC.

“Before there was more or less a soccer field, but I mean, it wasn’t great. So we decided to grade it to make it more of a formal soccer field, to formalise it a bit.”

“Now it’s neat and you can see where the soccer field actually is, where the lines should be. We just wanted the kids to have a neat field that they can run on and play soccer and other sports. We also gave them some sports equipment to play with,” says JC.

The impact?

Health and environment benefits

The use of biological dust control has significantly improved air quality by reducing dust along the road, creating a cleaner and safer environment for the school and its surrounding community.

Community well-being

The upgraded soccer field and provision of sports equipment have revitalized a key recreational space, promoting physical activity and community engagement.

Operational efficiency

Unlike plain water, Terrabind improves road stability, reducing long-term wear and ensures sustainable dust control.

Jubilee Metal’s approach reflects their dedication to building strong relationships with local communities. When the company learned of the school’s challenges, they didn’t hesitate to act.

“It’s been really nice to hear the stories and it’s quite heartwarming. It was really great to see a small gesture like a soccer ball and what it does to that child and the smile on their face,” explains JC.

For Jubilee Metals, responsible mining is about operational excellence combined with leaving a positive, lasting legacy. By prioritising the health and well-being of the communities they operate in, the company has demonstrated how clean technologies can have a positive impact on the environment, and the surrounding community.