THUNGELA OPERATIONS (PTY) LTD: KHWEZELA NORTH COLLIERY (“NAVIGATION”) – NOTICE OF A WASTE LICENCE APPLICATION TO OBTAIN AN ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATON FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE OVERBURDEN AND HAUL ROADS, AND EXISTING AND PROPOSED TOPSOIL DUMPS AT KHWEZELA NORTH COLLIERY, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE
This letter gives notice to potential Interested and Affected Parties (“I&APs”) about where information can be obtained in respect of the Waste Licence Application to obtain an Environmental Authorisation (“EA”) application, as well as the opportunity I&APs have to comment on the draft Basic Assessment Report.
BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT
Thungela Operations (Pty) Ltd (“Thungela”): Khwezela North Colliery (“Navigation”) proposes the expansion of the existing overburden stockpile and haul road expansion, and the existing and proposed topsoil dump areas to continue their mining operation processes in an effective manner.
LOCATION OF THE PROJECT
Navigation is situated within Khwezela North Colliery, on Farm Blaauwkrans 323 JS, which is located within close proximity to Witbank in the eMalahleni Local Municipality (“ELM”), which falls in the Nkangala District Municipality (“NDM”) of the Mpumalanga Province.
LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Procedure applied to the application
The proposed expansion will trigger the following authorisation processes: A Basic Assessment (“BA”) is required in compliance with the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) (“NEMA”), the NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014 (GN R982 of 4 December 2014) (“GN R982”), as amended, and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 28 of 2008) (“NEM:WA”).
Applications submitted to competent authority
The Waste Licence Application for an EA was submitted to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (“DMRE”) on 23 February 2024.
Listed activities applied to the application
The listed activities that are being applied for are as follows:
- Activity 13 of Category A, GN 921 of the NEMWA (Act No. 59 of 2008);
- Activity 56 of NEMA GN 983, 08 Dec 2014, as amended Listing Notice 1 (327) of 7 April 2017, as amended on 11 June 2021;
- Activity 12 of NEMA GN 985, 08 Dec 2014, as amended Listing Notice 3 (324) of 7 April 2017, as amended on 11 June 2021; and
- Activity 14 of NEMA GN 985, 08 Dec 2014, as amended Listing Notice 3 (324) of 7 April 2017, as amended on 11 June 2021.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
South Africans have a right to be informed about potential decisions that may affect them and to be afforded an opportunity to influence those decisions. This advertisement forms part of a Public Participation Process as part of the project. It describes the various components of the project to enable I&APs to get a better understanding of the potential environmental and social impacts that could be expected from the proposed project. It also outlines the process and the opportunities for the public to become involved during the study.
Register as an Interested and Affected Party (“I&AP”)
You may register as an I&AP. To register as an I&AP of this project, or to obtain more information or submit comments, please request a Registration Form from Shangoni and return it together with any comments to Shangoni by no later than Monday, 25 March 2024 at the details provided below.
Availability of the draft Basic Assessment Report (“BAR”)
The draft Basic Assessment Report (“BAR”) will be made available to the public for review for a period of 30 days from 23 February 2024 to 25 March 2024 at the following public viewing stations:
- Navigation, Khwezela North Colliery;
- Lynville Public Library;
- Klipfontein Branch Library; and
- The Shangoni website (shangoni.co.za).
E-mail or fax your comments to Shangoni (details provided below) by no later than Monday, 25 March 2024.
Where to obtain more information
To obtain additional information please contact the environmental consultant at the details provided below.
Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP): Shangoni Management Services (Pty) Ltd
Contact person: Sameera Ismail
Tel: 012 807 7036
E-mail: sameera@shangoni.co.za
Fax: 012 807 1014
Postal Address: P. O. Box 74726, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040