Volspruit mine: Sylvania remains confident

MOKOPANE - Sylvania Platinum’s legal advisor last week informed Northern News that the company will not have to restart the consultation process around the controversial Volspruit mine planned in the Nyl floodplain just south of Mokopane.
From Sylvania’s letter titled “Comment on press speculation” it was not clear whether the company also denies its final Environmental Impact Assessment was rejected by the Limpopo department of economic development environment and tourism.
Sylvania cites two national newspaper reports which claimed that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Volspruit Development was rejected, requiring that the application process be restarted. “Sylvania hereby confirms that the interpretation by the newspaper journalists is incorrect,” the letter reads.
In a recent letter to interested and affected parties, however, Sylvania’s environmental consultant, E-Science & Associates clearly stated that “the Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) has been rejected by the Limpopo department of economic development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) due to the following reasons:
a) The Final EIAR still does not clarify how the mine will not increase the level of water resources utilisation in the areas affected by the proposed mining project.
b) During the presentation made at the Focus Group meeting held on 10 February 2015, E-Science Associates (Pty) Ltd indicated that grouting has been excluded from the study. However, the Final EIAR still refers to a Grouting Strategy.
c) The Final EIAR does not clearly address which alternative developments the applicant may implement instead of the proposed mine.
d) The Final EIAR did not address issues around the development if a Biodiversity Offset Strategy.
e) A Wetland Offset Strategy must be developed.
f) An Environmental Risk Assessment Report (Level 2) needs to be completed.”
Sylvania says this was merely a request for clarification on matters related to water consumption and a request that additional work on the EIA be done to include a Biodiversity and Wetland Offset strategy.
Emile Honiball, legal advisor of the Nyl Action Group said the group would insist on community participation on anything that changes on the original impact report. “We especially want to be involved in the identifying of an offset strategy to ensure the area chosen for this strategy meets the exact criteria in terms of this unique wetland biodiversity.
Sylvania says it remains optimistic that the Application will be granted as the detailed Environmental Impact Study did not find any fatal flaws within the proposed project.
LEDET has requested that its comments be addressed and an amended final EIAR is submitted by July 19.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Constituency head for Mogalakwena, Beyers Smit (MP), on Wednesday issued a statement in which "the DA welcomes the department of mineral resources's decision to decline the application [EIA report] for the Volspruit mine next to the ecologically sensitive Nyl river.”
Smit states that “the DA believes in economic growth through growing industries, and sustainable mining - but not at the cost of our environment.”