Heritage Cases

Mafube Coal Mining (Pty) Ltd (Mafube) is a Joint Venture between Anglo American Thermal Coal (AATC) and Exxaro Coal Mpumalanga (Pty) Ltd. The existing Mafube opencast operation currently mining the Springboklaagte reserve produces power station and A-grade thermal export coal. Mafube plan to expand their operations to the Nooitgedacht reserves and it is anticipated that the expanded operation will continue to produce power station and A-Grade thermal export coal. All coal mined at the Nooitgedacht reserve will be transferred to the existing beneficiation (washing) plant located at Springboklaagte for processing. The operations are currently in the construction phase and operational phase is scheduled to commence in May 2018. Environmental authorisation (EA) conducted under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) for the Mafube LifeX operations was received from the Mpumalanga Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (MDEDET) on18 April 2013 (17/2/6/3 (101) N-1), and amendment to the EA received on 2 July 2014. An approval for the mining right’s application was granted by the Mpumalanga Department of Minerals Resources (DMR) on 30 August 2013 (MR 30/5/1/2/2/10026 MR) and the EMP approved by them on 14 November 2013. In terms of the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998) (NWA), an Integrated Water Use Licence application (WULA) & Waste Water Management Plan (IWWMP) was also required for the LifeX project, and the applications for Nooitgedacht and Wildfontein was submitted in December 2013 and approved 1 December 2014. A WUL amendment application was submitted for the Nooitgedacht and Wildfontein operations and approved on 1 February 2016 and 21 December 2016 respectively. Mafube LifeX also holds a Nooitgedacht Wetland Interventions WUL, Licence No. 03/B12C/CI/5006, dated 13 April 2017. During the project feasibility phase investigations, it was assessed that sections of D684 and D1048 district roads traverse the Nooitgedacht Coal Reserve and their closure and/or realignment are required before mining these sections can commence (Figure 4). These roads fall under the jurisdiction of the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT) their approval will ultimately be required to realign these roads. Golder Associates Africa (Pty) Ltd, an independent environmental and engineering company, is conducting the Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment and licensing process for the proposed road realignment project.