annexure-3-aquila-refusal-of-ea-letter-from-ledet-100d73323d69f392.pdf

The Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) of the Limpopo Province refused an Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the proposed Meletse Iron Ore Mining project. The project, proposed by Aquila Steel (S Africa) (Pty) Ltd, would have involved an open pit mining operation and associated infrastructure on the farms Donkerpoort 448 KQ and Randstephne 455 KQ. The refusal was based on the determination that ecological, visual, and traffic impacts could not be mitigated and that the project conflicted with required land use for the site.

• The Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism refused the Environmental Authorisation for the Meletse Iron Ore Mining project because the ecological, visual, and traffic impacts cannot be mitigated and the activity conflicts with the required land use of the site.
• A primary reason for the refusal is the presence of the threatened ('vulnerable') fern Chellanthes deltoidea Kunze subsp. silicicola. The project would cause an irreplaceable and irrevocable loss of habitat for this species, and the proposed biodiversity offset strategy was deemed non-feasible due to the absence of the species on neighbouring farms.
• The proposed mining site is located in Zone 1 of the Environmental Management Framework of the Waterberg District, an area designated for the protection of natural vegetation, soil, landscapes, and rock paintings where mining activities are considered undesirable.
• The site is identified as Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA) 1, meaning it is irreplaceable for meeting biodiversity conservation targets. Additionally, the site is noted as important for climate change resilience, aligning with the White Paper on the National Climate Change Response and the Integrated Development Plan for the Thabazimbi Local Municipality.
• The project would have significant visual and traffic impacts. Visual impacts from primary mining activities on the mountain top cannot be sufficiently screened, and the mine would generate 1,130 daily trips for ore transportation, staff, and general trucks.
• Despite the environmental refusal, an economic impact assessment concluded that the mine's benefits in terms of value added, job creation, and foreign exchange would outweigh the opportunity costs of eco-agriculture and eco-tourism.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). annexure-3-aquila-refusal-of-ea-letter-from-ledet-100d73323d69f392.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Annexure-3-Aquila-Refusal-of-EA-letter-from-LEDET.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. annexure-3-aquila-refusal-of-ea-letter-from-ledet-100d73323d69f392.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Annexure-3-Aquila-Refusal-of-EA-letter-from-LEDET.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=annexure-3-aquila-refusal-of-ea-letter-from-ledet-100d73323d69f392.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Annexure-3-Aquila-Refusal-of-EA-letter-from-LEDET.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrightsndannexure3aquilarefusalofealetterfromledet100d73323d69f392pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{annexure-3-aquila-refusal-of-ea-letter-from-ledet-100d73323d69f392.pdf}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Annexure-3-Aquila-Refusal-of-EA-letter-from-LEDET.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }