Thungela Resources Limited (Thungela Resources), owns and operates two mining operations, amongst others, located approximately 15 km south-west of eMalahleni (Witbank) in the Mpumalanga Province, namely the Greenside (304MR) and Khwezela Collieries. The Khwezela Colliery consists of the previously known Landau Colliery (306MR) and Kleinkopje Colliery (307MR). The Greenside and Khwezela operations are known as the South African Coal Estates (SACE) complex.
Thungela Resources requires the extension of the SACE complex to contribute to the export coal profile, and for this reason AOPL is considering mining the previously undermined Clydesdale Pan area located within the Greenside Colliery’s Mining Right area via opencast mining method. The proposed project will be known as the Clydesdale Pit Project. The coal supply from the Clydesdale Pit will coincide with the ramp down tonnages from Navigation Pit operations. The proposed project will therefore allow for the continuation of employment and continued contribution to socio-economic benefits at a local and provincial level. The proposed project will extend the life of the complex to approximately 2042.
The proposed project triggers various environmental, waste and water related activities in terms of the above mentioned Acts and the respective Regulations. Therefore, before the mine can commence with any proposed project, authorisations are required in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA), National Environmental Management: Waste Act (Act No. 59 of 2008) (NEM:WA) and the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998) (NWA). Due to the nature of the proposed activities to be undertaken and authorised, an integrated environmental authorisation process will be undertaken; i.e. a full Scoping and Environment Impact Assessment (S&EIA).
Thungela Resources has appointed SRK Consulting as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake and the required environmental and waste authorisation application processes, required for the Clydesdale Pit Project including undertaking the required public participation process.
