Heritage Cases

Currently, coal from the opencast operation (and underground operation further south) is transported to the Phola Coal Processing Plant (PCPP). The PCPP is a 50:50 joint venture between AAIC and South32 SA Coal Holdings (Pty) Ltd (South32). The coarse and fine discard produced by PCPP is currently stored in a surface discard facility at South32’s Klipspruit Colliery. The facility is reaching capacity (110 ha) by 2021 and an alternative discard facility is required to service the discard requirement of Zibulo Colliery. It is proposed that a new discard facility be developed over the mined-out opencast pit at Zibulo Colliery.The discard (generated at PCPP) will be transported to the site via a new discard conveyor. The proposed discard facility will require a waste management licence (WML) in terms of the National Environmental Management Waste Act, 2008 (Act 59 of 2008) (as amended) (NEMWA), and environmental authorisation (A) in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998) (as amended) (NEMA). The WML and EA application will need to be supported by a full environmental impact assessment (EIA) process (scoping and impact assessment phases) in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014 (as amended). The competent authority for the application is the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE). It is proposed that a new discard facility be developed over the mined-out opencast pit at Zibulo Colliery. The discard facility will have a life of approximately fifteen (15) years, a total discard disposal capacity of 26 000 m3 and extend over an area of roughly 150 ha. The discard facility will be designed such that it will be placed over the backfilled pit as illustrated in. The facility is anticipated to have a maximum height of 27.5 m above the pit’s rehabilitated landform. The material deposited on the Zibulo discard dump will be deposited as a single stream consisting of coarse discards and filtered fines with the moisture content of the filter cake being around 20 – 23%. The facility will therefore be a dry placed discard waste facility and not a hydraulically placed tailings storage facility. Seepage from the discard will be managed by the existing pit water management system in place for the mine. Excess mine water make intercepted at the pit is currently sent to the eMalahleni water reclamation plant (EWRP) (via the Klipspruit Colliery’s balancing dam) for treatment. Rehabilitation of the discard facility will require the construction of a cover that will be installed during ongoing rehabilitation. The cover will allow for the following: - A growth medium suitable for the establishment of vegetation to limit erosion; and - Limit seepage into the discard facility. Soil for the cover will be sourced from on site. The discard (generated at PCPP) will be transported to the site via a new conveyor. It is proposed that the new conveyor follow the alignment of the existing conveyor linking the South32 Klipspruit extension project to the PCPP. The proposed new conveyor will lie to the immediate north of the existing conveyor and cross the R545 on a dedicated bridge crossing. Soon after the crossing of the R545 the conveyor will turn north to the opencast pit for final discard disposal. The entire extent of the conveyor route is confined to mine property belonging to either South32 or AAIC.