Coastal watchdog picks bone with mine
Coastwatch KZN appeals for further studies on RBM’s Zulti South mine expansion north of Mtunzini.
WHILE the Mtunzini Conservancy (MC) continues to fight Tronox KZN Sands’ developing Fairbreeze mine to the south of the town, Coastwatch KZN wants to throw a spanner in the works of Richards Bay Minerals’ (RBM) proposed Zulti South mine to the north of Mtunzini.
The coastal custodian stated that while RBM’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the sands mine expansion is ‘comprehensive’ in describing pre-mining conditions, there is not yet enough data available on all the expected environmental impacts from mining.
Zulti South will include dry, and possibly dredge mining of dune sands over a 20km stretch of coastline towards eSikawini.
Coastwatch wants the mining giant to first, among other things, map sensitive sites, do additional aquatic and wetland assessments and supply information on all infrastructure required and vegetation losses.
‘Coastwatch finds that without the additional studies which have been recommended, there is insufficient information to finalise the mine plan and provide the required mitigation for impacts,’ it said in a report.
Final submission
In response, RBM said it noted there will always be a need for more information and more studies as stakeholders’ priorities and interests change over time’.
However, the company asserted impact assessments, consultations and studies undertaken for the mining right in the mid-nineties and approved in 1998 by the Department of Mineral Resources, as well as EIA studies that formed part of the new National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) from 2006, now comes to an end by the final submission to relevant authorities.
‘We are committed to ensuring that we minimise our impact on the environment and society, and that we add value to the area in which we operate.’
Earlier this year, RBM said it hopes Phase One of Zulti South’s will see infrastructure development and a 2500 tons per hour (tph) dry mining operation in the first quarter of 2017.
Its second phase will allow 1 250 tph dry mining in 2021.
The company is the largest single tax payer in KwaZulu-Natal, providing 3.5% of KZN’s gross geographic product.
