Sappi Licence Advisory Forum (LAF) - Phelamanga

Sappi Licence Advisory Forum (LAF) 

Minutes of Meeting held at 14:00 on Thursday, 17 February 2011 

at the Italian Club, Umkomaas 

Present 

(as per the attendance register) 

Mr Derek Airey (DA) Sappi Saiccor 

Mr Santosh Bachoo (SB) KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife 

Mr Paul Buchel (PB) Ezemvelo Wildlife 

Mr Andy Cobb (AC) PUGASA / Coastwatch 

Mr Allan Connell (AC) Consultant 

Mr Craig Daniel (CD) Sappi Saiccor 

Ms Nicolette Forbes (NF) Marine & Estuarine Research 

Ms Zanele Mabuza (ZM) Department of Water Affairs 

Ms Bianca McKelvey (BM) WESSA 

Mr Thilivhali Meregi (TM) DEA 

Mr Samuel Mokoena (SM) Sappi Saiccor 

Mr Clive Oxley (CO) Sappi Saiccor 

Ms Zelda Schwalbach (ZS) Sappi Saiccor 

Ms Bonisiwe Sithole (BS) DAEARD-Marine Pollution 

Mr Mulalo Tshikotshi (MT) DEA 

Secretariat 

Mr Rod Bulman (RB) Phelamanga Projects 

Ms Carine Jones (CJ) Phelamanga Projects 

Apologies 

Mr Mike Bentley (MB) Umkomaas Tourism 

Ms Lisa Guastella (LG) UCT / BCRE 

Mr Zama Mbunquka (ZM) Water Affairs 

Mr Raj Philip (RP) Department of Water Affairs 

Ms Renelle Pillay (RP) Department of Water Affairs 

Ms Carolyn Schwegman (CS) Wildlife and Environmental Society of SA 

Ms Debbie Smith (DS) Diving with Sharks 

1. WELCOME, INTRODUCTION & APOLOGIES 

RB welcomed all and thanked them for attending the meeting. 

2. APOLOGIES 

Noted above. 

3. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA 

The agenda was accepted. 

4. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 18 NOVEMBER 2010 AND 

CONFIRMATION THEREOF 

The minutes were confirmed and signed as a true reflection of the meeting, with the following 

amendments: 

• Item 5.1.1 to read one sixtieth. 

• Item 6.1.1.1: It was agreed to remove this statement from the minutes and record 

that the LAF did not share this view as there are many functioning estuaries on the 

coast. 

5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES 

5.1. Progress with Repairs (SOP) 

All repairs had been done and the leak was essentially sealed. The repair was not yet 

100% but Sappi were working on it and it would be monitored. The question was raised as 

Phelamanga Projects 

Tel: 033 386 4465 ◊ Fax: 086 505 0616 ◊ Email: carine@phelamanga.co.za 

ACTION 

Sappi to monitor

DA 

SAPPI LAF Minutes 110217 cj rb DA.doc 

to whether there was any danger of flexing? Shade cloth would be used to stop the current 

going through. 

A DVD of the repair section of the pipeline was shown to the meeting. 

5.2. Site Visit with the Department 

Ms Bonisiwe Sithole from DAEARD-Marine Pollution and Mr Mulalo Tshikotshi from DEA had 

conducted a site visit at Sappi Saiccor that morning. To be removed from the agenda. 

5.3. Licensing Matters 

To be discussed under Item 6. 

5.4. Clarity on EIA Process 

Is an EIA necessary for the raising of the barrage at the intake works? Unclear at this 

stage if this is necessary. MT to follow up with DAEARD. Saiccor has appointed an attorney 

to look into all legal requirements, process is underway. Licenses are being looked at. 

Barrage is legal. If they are required to do an EIA then Sappi will do it. 

5.5. Further EIA Requirements 

As above. Advice is being given by Ian Sampson and it appears that Sappi are following all 

legal steps. 

Question was raised re low flows and seepage. Flow at DWA weir U1HOO9 (Shozi’s) is 

measured and the abstraction flow from intake are used to determine flow to estuary. 

There is continuous flow through the sheet piling of the intake barrage. (Section 5.18 of 

licence) 

6. REPORT FROM SAPPI SAICCOR 

6.1. License Compliance 

• Water containing waste to river: 60 % 

(1 COD & 1 Cond - Jan) 

• Water containing waste to sea: 99.54 % 

1 SS (31 st Dec – broke tower at PM 4 flooding) and 1 SS (12 th Jan – presumed 

pulp spillage) 

• Complaints - No phoned reports 

(See dive graphs for verbal reports). 

6.1.1. Discussion 

RB read an e-mail received from Debbie Smith. 

Sappi reported that no reports had been received from operators that there was any effluent. 

Operators report on a daily basis. DA reports at the LAF meetings on the results from 

the operators’ data returned to him. AC suggested that perhaps DS should be consulted in 

order to gain understanding in the matter; that she needed to make informed statements. 

No further comments on Debbie’s e-mail, except that she is urged to attend the meetings. 

If she cannot do so, then she should send a representative. Sappi have held regular meetings 

with ASCBOA and are happy to continue to meet with them. It was agreed that Phelamanga 

send a letter to DS re attendance of meetings. 



Page 2 of 11 

ACTION 

MT to clarify 

need for 

EIA 

Phelamanga to 

send letter 

to ASCBOA

DA 

6.2. Test results 

Effluent samples which exceeded the limits in 2010 




May – MgO 1 maintenance shut. Plus cleaning of spent liquor tanks, HP jetting activities, 

major power outage, changing valve on D2 down leg and repola wash line repairs. 

June – 1 from MgO shut - others ? 

July – cleaning of surge tank lines to LTSA 

August – O2 plant stopped 

December – broke tower at PM 4 flooding 

6.2.1. DWA Samples 

8-Nov-10 Saiccor DWA Limits 

TDS (mg/l) 9250 9760 20000 

Lignin 955 - 6000 

COD (mg/l) 8680 6760 24000 

Turb (NTU) 401 - - 

pH 4.4 4.2 2 - 8 

SS (mg/l) 598 694 800 

Colour (Hazen units) 2000 - 3500 

Cond (mS/m) 635.4 613.0 - 

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ACTION

DA 

9-Dec-2010 Saiccor DWA Limits 

TDS (mg/l) 8524 10250 20000 

Lignin 1621 - 6000 

COD (mg/l) 8510 6540 24000 

Turb (NTU) 337 - - 

pH 4.0 3.5 2 - 8 

SS (mg/l) 646 438 800 


Cond (mS/m) 487.3 491.0 - 

25-Jan-2011 Saiccor DWA Limits 

TDS (mg/l) 6316 20000 

Lignin 932 - 6000 

COD (mg/l) 11180 24000 

Turb (NTU) 248 - - 

pH 4.0 2 - 8 

SS (mg/l) 371 800 


Cond (mS/m) 471.5 - 

6.2.2. License Compliance Graphs 




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ACTION

DA 




Page 5 of 11 

ACTION

DA 

6.2.3. Discussion: 

The DWA results still come from the same laboratory. 

6.3. LignoTech Production 

6.3.1. LignoTech Production (t/month) 




6.3.2. Discussion on LignoTech Production 

In the ensuing discussion the following was noted: 

1. Sappi was selling a lot more Lignosulphonate to the local market. Local demand 

poses new implications. 

2. Finding more applications for the product. 

3. Sappi are also trying to recover more Lignosulphonate on the belt washers. 

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ACTION

DA 

6.3.3. LignoTech production (% of Ca Prod) 

6.4. Plume Visibility 

6.4.1. 

6.5. Foam on the Beaches 

6.5.1. Discussion on Foam on the Beaches 




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ACTION

DA 

In the ensuing discussion it was noted that the last reported incident was March 2010. 

6.6. Dive Visibility Graphs 

6.6.1. Dive graph for November (vis. in m) 2010 

6.6.2. Dive graph for December (vis. in m) 2010 

6.6.3. Dive graph for January (vis. in m) 2011 




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ACTION

DA 


6.6.4. Discussion on Dive Visibility Graphs 

In the ensuing discussion it was noted that: 

• Reports by the operators are evidence of what is actually happening. 

• Pigging – all communication with the divers is by voice. Procedure for pigging is: 

open end cap, close diffusers – send pigs through – open diffusers, close end cap. 

7. LICENSING 

Nothing new to report. Status remains unchanged until further notice. 

Queries from BM: 

1. Desktop reserve on the system. (Estuarine reserve) It was reported that the DWA 

has not done a desktop study. Need to apply for a consultant to do this. 

2. No reserve in place. Estimation done some years before. 

3. Section 5.21 of licence: Breaching the estuary. Why is it required that the estuary 

is artificially breached after 2 days? What is the background? This is in conflict 

with Ezemvelo requirements. 

4. Section 5.24 of licence: Removal of temporary structures. It was noted that this is 

impossible. 

5. All issues to be addressed to Mr Norman Ward of the Dept. Phelamanga to write a 

letter to invite him to the next forum meeting. 

6. It was noted that this LAF is for the effluent discharge licence. 

7. Maintenance of surf zone outfall: This is purely an emergency one. Rather than 

send effluent directly into the estuary it is directed to the surf zone in an emergency. 

The water used to flush and keep it open is freshwater is used, the volumes 

of which are included in the abstraction licence. 

8. It was noted that the current pollution in Umkomaas is totally undesirable and is 

affecting Saiccor. DWA are requested to address this matter. Sewerage from the 

sewage works is going into the estuary and is not Saiccor’s problem. The sewage 

works is too small to cope with the volumes. 

9. An estimate of how much fresh water is being used to flush the pipe to the surf 

zone was requested as freshwater resources may be compromised. In discussion 

of the water balance it was stated that Saiccor does not affect the water balance at 

all. The quantities used are small. Sappi were asked to quantify the flow. 

8. MKOMAZI RIVER FLOW 



Page 9 of 11 

ACTION 

Phelamanga to 

invite Norman 

Ward 

to next LAF 

meeting 

Sappi to quantify 

the flow.

DA 

Latest figures Measured 23kms upstream. More accurate point. 

Comparative analysis slide presented by DA for information purposes. 

8.1. Ecological Studies – Nicolette Forbes 

A very informative presentation was made by NF. (See attached document) 




8.1.1. Discussion on presentation 

• Generally sampling and measurements are taken on a spring tide. 

• The estuary will be classified differently in future. 

• The morphology of the estuary is difficult to pigeonhole as conditions are very 

transient, however the barrages do not seem to be influencing this. 

• Sappi only need to be compliant on licence requirements. 

• There are differences between the Mzimkulu and Mkomazi which are unexplained. 

Majority of sediment coming down was from erosion. 

• If the river mouth closes the water quality will drop quickly due to sewerage. Fix 

the sewage works so don’t have to breach the system. 

• The value of sampling fish as indicators was raised. Fish do add to the picture but 

study limited to water quality and benthic indicators with long term effects in mind. 

9. CORRESPONDENCE 

Nothing to report. 

10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

10.1. Monthly compliance and technical reports 

BM required more detailed information. Reporting on benthic and other sampling including 

marine sampling annual reporting. WESSA needed to have detailed data instead of looking 

at averages. Asking for distribution of specialist reports and detail behind compliance incidents 

so that the forum can be better informed and advised. DA has included BM and CJ 

on monthly reports to DWA. CJ to forward reports to those who are interested. 

10.2. Beach driving by Sappi 

Sappi does have permits which have recently been renewed by eThekwini. It was reported 

that permits are required from National Government and Ezemvelo offered to help facilitate 

this application. 

10.3. Cannon Brae 

1. Housing development in proximity of Mkomazi River approved without a sewerage solution. 

2. Concerns have been raised about the capacity of the waste water treatment works 

erected. If the sewage works goes ahead it has been suggested that the discharge is 

via the Sappi surf-zone outfall. 

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ACTION 

DA to send 

DWA reports. 

CJ to distribute

DA 


3. There is particular concern around the licence conditions for Sappi. Sappi reported that 

they had agreed that this would not become a permanent solution - only to be used in 

emergencies. 

4. Sappi are in process of investigating using waste water in their production stream. 

Water source for this unit is Durban. 

11. DATES OF MEETINGS FOR 2011 

19 May 2011 

18 August 2011 

17 November 2011 

12. CLOSURE 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 16h20 

Read and confirmed this day of 2011. 

_____________________________ 

Facilitator 



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ACTION

Sappi Licence Advisory Forum (LAF) - Phelamanga

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