SamQuarz’s Environmental Management Programme (EMP) was approved by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) in November 2005. Its siding, in terms of the National Safety Regulatory Act, was also approved in December 2005. Compliance is monitored internally throughout the year.
All the water usages of the mine were registered with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) during 2002 as required in terms of the Environmental Management Programme Report (EMPR). An Integrated Water Use Licence Application was submitted to DWAF during 2005. In 2007 SamQuarz devised and successfully implemented a water conservation campaign.
The Engineering Department implemented an improved waste management system during the year, which included separation of various kinds of waste emanating from the operation. All domestic waste, in various forms, is removed under contract by a commercial waste management company, Waste-tech. The sites used by Waste-tech are registered sites approved by DWAF. Other waste material, oil and scrap metal are sold.
Two meetings with interested and affected parties in the surrounding community were held in 2007, and relations remain excellent.
A formal, external review of the operation will be conducted during 2008.
The environmental impact of the Springlake operation is managed according to the EMP which was approved in 1999 by the DME. Water use licences were granted in terms of the Water Act (1998). The following areas provided a focus during 2007 for the mine's continuing compliance with the requirements of its approved EMP report:
With respect to the opencast mining operation, mining and rehabilitation are conducted simultaneously. Overburden is stripped and topsoil stockpiled for redistribution and shaping following blasting and removal of the seam. The surface is grassed and gabions constructed where necessary to prevent erosion.
To manage the risk of pollution at the discard dump, discard distribution, compaction, and the covering of embankments with overburden constitute standard practice. Embankments are grassed to limit erosion. Evaporation ponds are constructed as catchments for seepage. The discard dump is monitored continually for temperature and compliance with compaction, slope and berm treatment standards.
Pollution dams at the mine's Ballengeich and Clive shafts contain polluted run-off water and in respect of the latter, water pumped from underground. The dams' construction ensures that clean run-off rainwater bypasses them and migrates into natural watercourses.
At the coal treatment plant, a closed water circuit is in place. Slurry is pumped to slurry dams, where the solids settle and the clear water is re-circulated to the plant.
Borehole and stream sampling and analysis are conducted on an ongoing basis in terms of the mine's water monitoring system. Results are compared with DWAF standards to ensure compliance.
An EMPR, prepared by Groundwater Consulting Services (established environmental consultants), is in place for Areas 1 and 2. The EMPR followed the DME guidelines, as contained in its aide-mémoire, and was approved by the DME. This broad exercise covers all aspects of the operation including, transport routes, access roads, the proposed mine workings, process plant and disposal sites, as well as the proposed Eteza railway siding, storage and loading facility. The environmental factors considered are:
No issues of a major environmental impact or cost have been identified for Areas 1 and 2. Ongoing design has mitigated many of the initial issues raised. However, due to the underdeveloped and rural nature of the area, the socio-economic impacts are the most significant.
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