UPDATE: Back to drawing board for Ibutho Coal
Comments from interested and affected parties have forced Ibutho Coal to re-think Fuleni Anthracite Project.
OPPOSERS of Ibutho Coal’s proposed Fuleni Anthracite Project are celebrating after the company on Thursday announced it would re-plan, where appropriate, to reduce the mine’s zone of influence.
The opencast anthracite mine is set to reach within 100 metres of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park’s world-renowned wilderness area.
While the impact on surrounding communities has been at the heart of the opposition, another opencast mine in the area could have disastrous consequences on the region’s already stressed water supply.
Ibutho Coal’s draft environmental impact report and environmental management programme were submitted to the Department of Mineral Resources in May and made available for comment from May to August.
In a statement, Ibutho Coal’s environmental practitioner, Jacana Environmentals, thanked interested and affected parties for their comments.
After consideration of these, the company announced it was currently investigating options to address the concerns.
Such options could include further community engagement, additional studies where appropriate, and revisiting the mine planning to reduce the mine’s zone of influence. Interested and affected parties will be notified of Ibutho Coal’s decision once a plan of action has been formulated.
‘As a result of the additional work planned for the project, no immediate engagement sessions will be scheduled, apart from the ongoing community consultation,’ said Jacana Environmentals’ Marietjie Eksteen.
