PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT

Transcription

1 PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY FOR THE MASAMA COAL PROJECT BY MINERGY COAL IN THE KWENENG AND KGATLENG DISTRICTS Introduction and Project Background Minergy Coal (Pty) Ltd intends to develop an open and underground coal mine near Medie Village in the Kweneng District. The proposed opencast coal mine will have the capacity to produce coal at million tonnes per annum. Project Description The project key components are: 1. Site establishment and construction. This will include establishment of support buildings including mine offices and workshops, demarcation of the mining area, upgrading and establishment of suitable roads, establishment of related facilities such as crushers, screens, and a fuel storage area. 2. Mine establishment which includes establishing a beneficiation plant, box cuts (initial opencast mining pits), waste management areas, discards dump, and related facilities. 3. Opencast mining will be by means of conventional truck and shovel and will be beneficiated on site to produce various high-quality coal products. 4. Transport of product to markets will be by means of trucking on new and existing roads and also by train from a nearby rail siding. 5. Two existing boreholes located to the south-east of the project area will be equipped and connected to the mine site for the provision of raw water. 6. Progressive rehabilitation of mined areas will be done during mining operations and restoration of the plant site and support facilities at the end of mine life. 7. The rail siding will be developed to the north of the new Tshele Hills rail spur for export of coal. 8. Power will be provided by 6 x 500 KVA diesel generator sets. 9. There will be construction of a new 19 km road linking Dikgonnye and Medie with the development of 7 borrow pits (two of which exist) and an upgrade of the road linking Dikgonnye and A1 road. Project Location The project area falls within the Kweneng District covering a small village of Medie. It is roughly 65 km north of the capital city Gaborone. Some components of the project will be located within Kgatleng such as part of the new road, upgraded road and a rail siding for loading of coal. 1

2 Figure 1-1: Location of the Project Area 2

3 Purpose of this document This document has been prepared by to inform you: about the proposed project; about the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process to be followed; of possible environmental impacts; and of how you can have input into the environmental assessment process and decision-making process. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) In line with the Environmental Assessment (EA) Act of 2011, Minergy (Pty) Ltd. has commissioned Environmental Consultants to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed coal project and associated infrastructure. The objective of the EIA is to determine how the proposed project could impact on the environment and the livelihoods of people. The EIA findings will influence the final project design and form the basis for environmental permission and approval of the project by the authorities. The EIA process will conform to the requirements of the EA Act of 2011 that prescribes the following approach: Scoping Phase: This phase involves the identification of concerns, issues and impacts of the project. Moreover, it defines the scope of work to be considered in the EIA. This is the stage at which the EIA is currently. The study will focus on the potential negative and positive impacts that may be caused by the project. Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment Phase: This entails identification and assessment of possible impacts (environmental and social) of the proposed activity, detailed specialist investigations and recommendations for mitigation measures and the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) at the end of this Phase. Invitation to participate Anyone who is interested or affected by the proposed project has a right to participate in the EIA process. Please make use of the following opportunities: Study the information made available in this document. Contact the consultations team to obtain further project information, and/or raise issues and concerns (contact details are provided on the attached comments sheet). Register as an interested or affected party in order to receive future project information and/or formally record issues and concerns. Complete the comment sheet (attached) and return by hand, post, fax or . Attend the public stakeholder meetings to obtain further project information, interact with the project team, and/or raise issues and concerns. Public meetings will be held at the following places: Place Date Time Lentsweletau Kgotla 21 st March hrs Dikgatlhong Kgotla 21 st March hrs Mahetlwe Kgotla 22 nd March hrs 3

4 Hatsalatladi Kgotla 22 nd March hrs Medie Kgotla 23 rd March hrs Kweneng Kgotla 23 rd March hrs Dikgonnye Kgotla 24 th March hrs The purpose of the meetings is to formally announce the project, EIA process and provide interested and affected parties (I&APs) with an opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns related to the project and EIA process and to record these questions and concerns. These concerns will then be addressed during the EIA process. Parties involved in the process The following parties have been identified as key stakeholders in the EIA processes. Stakeholder group General Public Local Authorities Local Government Departments Key stakeholders Lentsweletau, Hatsalatladi, Medie, Dikgatlhong, Dikgonnye, Kweneng and Mahetlwe communities. Cattle posts and arable lands area within and around the project site Molepolole /Lentsweletau Sub-District Council Molepolole/ Lentsweletau (MAA) Sub-District Development Committee (DDC), Lentsweletau Sub Land Board, Artesia Sub-Landboard and Kgatleng District Land Use and Planning Unit (DLUPU), Kweneng District Development Committee (DDC). Your participation in the EIA process Your issues, concerns and comments will demonstrate your participation in the proposed development. It will also help to focus the EIA process and enhance the quality of the decisions taken by the authorities. Please participate. 4

5 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY FOR THE PROPOSED MASAMA COAL PROJECT COMMENT SHEET Please complete not later than 31 st March 2017 and return to: Mrs Taboka Mabudi Postal address: P. O. Box Gaborone Telephone number: Fax number: Please fill in your personal details below: TITLE NAME ORGANISATION DESIGNATION ADDRESS TEL NO CELL NO FAX NO I would like to participate in the EIA Process Please delete my name from your mailing list COMMENTS (Please use additional sheets if you wish) YES NO YES NO The following issues should be addressed as part of the EIA: Any other comments: 5

6 Please add the following neighbours/interested or affected parties to your mailing list (please provide contact details) We thank you for your participation. 6