Heritage Cases

Black Mountain Mining (Pty) Ltd (herein referred to as BMM), part of the global Vedanta Resources Plc., intends to expand the Swartberg Mine at the existing Black Mountain Mine, which is located 10 km west of the town of Aggeneys, Northern Cape Province. BMM currently produces ore from two underground mines, namely the Deeps Mine and the Swartberg Mine (both located on the Black Mountain Mine). To secure the future of underground mining at BMM, it is proposed to ramp-up ore production from Swartberg Mine to a minimum of 1.7 Mtpa before Deeps mine is mined out. The expansion will advance the Swartberg life of mine within the existing Mining Right Area (MR 517) by at least 19 years. The expansion of Swartberg mine will consist of the expansion of the current underground mine and three new open pit mines, and a total of 150,000,000 tons of ore will be mined from the Swartberg over the 19 year life of mine. Of this expected tonnage, approximately 18,000,000 tons of lead and copper concentrate will be extracted. Lead and copper concentrate will be transported via existing rail and/or road networks and exported via the Port of Saldahna. The existing Swartberg mine operates under an Environmental Authorisation from the Department of Mineral Resources (reference: NCS 30/5/1/2/3/2/1/517 EM). The development of a decline and the establishment of an open pit with associated workshops and infrastructure are included in this approval. The proposed expansion of the Swartberg Mine includes the expansion of the decline and the development of three more open pits (the Project). It must be noted that the footprint of the existing Black Mountain Mine will not be expanded.