NKOMATI ANTHRACITE (PTY) LIMITED - Sentula Mining

Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Nkomati Anthracite (Pty) Limited, Madadeni Opencast
Mining Project Page 62
The opencast mining will result in the
removal of the topsoil layer, which may result
in the loss of vegetation cover.
Loss of animal burrows /microhabitats and
migration of animals may occur due to
disruption of the soil profile and vegetation
cover.
There is a risk that mining contractor
employees working in the area will result in
trapping of wild animals that may still be
present on site and surrounding areas.
Formation of a void during mining will result
in loss of MAR within the Komati River sub
catchment, which will result in the loss of
catchment yield.
Runoff from the upslope area may enter the
rehabilitated opencast workings giving rise to
an increased siltation. The silted water will
enter the Komati River affecting its water
quality.
Water captured within the opencast pits may
have low pH, contain elevated salt, ion and
metal concentrations, which may impact
detrimentally on the environment if allowed to
enter the natural environment.
NKOMATI ANTHRACITE (PTY) LIMITED COMPILED BY GEOVICON ENVIRONMENTAL (PTY) LTD
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Mining must be undertaken
concurrently with rehabilitation,
with the mined out area
rehabilitated and revegetated with
plant species recommended by a
specialist.
No mitigation will be undertaken.
Note however that fauna will
naturally recolonise unmined and
rehabilitated areas.
Educate employees on the
impacts of trapping endangered
species during the mines
environmental awareness plan
implementation.
Ensure that the operational
opencast pits cover as little space
as possible during mining. This
will reduce the loss of runoff to the
catchment.
Construct contours to reduce the
velocity of runoff storm water and
establish vegetation as soon as
possible after completion of the
soil placement and profiling.
All dirty water captured in the
opencast pits will as soon as
possible be pumped into the
pollution control dam
(reconstructed to DWEA approved
design specifications).
Mining costs
N/A
R 30 000
Mining costs
R 250 000
R 2 400 000