EIA PHASE PUBLIC CONSULTATION FOR THE STUART COAL (PTY) LTD. SOUTH BLOCK COLLIERY – INFRASTRUCUTRE UPGRADE PROJECT (DMRE MINING RIGHT NUMBER: MP30/5/1/2/3/2/1/(444)EM)
In terms of the requirements of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act no 107 of 1998) (NEMA), the Mineral and Petroleum Resource Development Act, 2002 (Act 28 of 2002) (MPRDA), and the National Water Act, 1998 (Act no 36 of 1998) (NWA), as well as the Regulations and Guidelines thereunder, all Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) are encouraged and allowed the opportunity to participate in environmental governance.
Project Background
Stuart Coal (Pty) Ltd. is an existing coal mining company currently consisting of the Stuart Weltevreden and Goedgedacht Colliery, the East Block Colliery and the South Block Colliery. The Stuart Coal (Pty) Ltd. Collieries are situated in the Victor Khanye Local Municipality in the Nkangala District Municipality of the Mpumalanga Province. The Stuart Weltevreden and Goedgedacht Colliery is situated approximately 7 km, the Stuart East Block Colliery is situated approximately 10 km east, and the Stuart South Block Colliery is situated approximately 15 km to the east of the town of Delmas in Mpumalanga.
Activities at the South Block Colliery commenced on the site during September 2018 with the construction of support infrastructure required prior to the formal commencement of mining operations. The South Colliery operates in terms of the following approvals:
- Environmental Management Programme (EMP) (dated 2010) in terms of the requirements of the Mineral and Petroleum Resource Development Act (Act no 28 of 2002) (MPRDA) and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Regulations (2004) (MPRDR) thereunder, which was approved on 19 September 2012.
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (dated 2010) in terms of the requirements of the National Environmental Management Act (Act no 107 of 1998) (NEMA) and the EIA Regulations R.543 (2010) that applied at the time of compilation thereof, as well as the Record of Decision dated 06 August 2012.
- Water Use Licence (WUL) (as amended) in terms of the requirements of the National Water Act (Act no 36 of 1998) (NWA) and the Regulations thereunder, dated 13 November 2017.
As per the current approvals, coal will be mined at the South Block Colliery and then transported to the existing processing plant at the Weltevreden Colliery from where it will be processed and sold. Only essential support infrastructure is approved for construction at the Stuart South Block Colliery site. It is expected that mining of coal will commence in the near future once sufficient support infrastructure on the site is in place.
South Block Colliery Infrastructure Upgrade Project
Stuart Coal (Pty) Ltd. would like to construct additional support infrastructure at the Stuart Block South Colliery in order to optimise operations planned for the site. Additional proposed infrastructure includes the following:
- Plant area (run of mine coal and product stockpiles, material handling and crushing facilities, coal processing plant, spiral plant, thickeners and reservoir, filter press plant, substation and generator).
- Workshop area (including diesel storage bowsers).
- Weigh Bridge.
- Waste yard.
- Security hut and offices
- Explosives magazine.
- Internal roads, pipelines, boreholes, water supply, sewage collection, and other related support infrastructure.
A plan showing the proposed activities together with the approved activities is included below:
The proposed new activities trigger listed activities identified in the NEMA (1998) and as a result a Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) Process must be followed.
Applications applicable to this project
Stuart Coal has applied for authorisation in terms of Section 102 under the MPRDA (2002) for the amendment of the approved Environmental Management Programme (EMP). The application also included an application for Environmental Authorisation in terms of the requirements of the NEMA (1998) for a Scoping and Environmental Impact Report (S&EIR) process. Stuart Coal has also applied to amend their approved Water Use Licence (WUL) in terms of the requirements of the NWA (1998) for the Water Uses associated with the project. It is the purpose of these applications to amend the EMP and WUL to allow for the development of additional proposed infrastructure for the more optimal operation of the site.
Purpose of this Background Information summary
It is the purpose of this Background Information summary to form part of the environmental application processes undertaken in terms of the requirements of the:
- The National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act no 107 of 1998) and the Regulations thereunder.
- The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act 28 of 2002), as amended December 2014, and the Regulations thereunder.
- The National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998), and the Regulations thereunder.
Stuart Coal (Pty) Ltd. has appointed Clean Stream Environmental Consultants (Pty) Ltd. (CSEC), as required by Regulation 12(1) of the NEMA (1998), as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP), for the purpose of compiling their Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Programme report.
Availability of the draft EIR under the NEMA (1998), as required by the MPRDA (2002), for public comment:
The Draft EIR under the NEMA (1998), as required by the MPRDA (2002) is available for public comment for a period of 30 days, from 06 August 2021 until 06 September 2021. Copies of the Draft EIR will be made available for public review at:
- The main gate of Stuart Coal (Pty) Ltd. South Block Colliery – Delmas.
- The main gate of Stuart Coal (Pty) Ltd. Weltevreden Colliery – Delmas.
- The Afgri Building in Delmas – Corner of R50 and the R555, Delmas.
- An electronic copy of the document will be available below.
A register and comment sheet will accompany the document at the public viewing stations. Please complete the register subsequent to reviewing the document. Alternatively, you can submit comments directly to Clean Stream Environmental Consultants (Pty) Ltd. (CSEC) by fax, email, telephone, or via this website form.
WhatsApp question / query line: A WhatsApp line has been opened for the public comment period. I&APs can use this WhatsApp line as an additional means to comment on the project or enquire should they require additional information. The WhatsApp line number is 066 175 7474
Additional information: Additional information on the application as well as the activities and Water Uses proposed is available from CSEC. Our contact details can be found here.
I&AP registration: If you have not already done so, in order to ensure that you are identified as an I&AP, please submit your name, contact information and interest in the matter to the contact person listed below by 06 September 2021. Alternatively, I&AP registration can take place here.
(Note that in line with COVID-19 protocols, no meeting will be held, however we will gladly assist all I&APs with any queries raised during the public comment period).