annexure-9-4aea90f86e7d7da0.pdf

The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) submitted a formal objection to the proposed Yzermyn underground coal mine project by Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd, arguing that the project is illegal and environmentally devastating due to its location within protected biodiversity areas.

• The MTPA objects to the Yzermyn underground coal mine project on the grounds that the majority of the target area is located within the Mabola Protected Environment, making mining illegal under the Protected Areas Act (NEM:PAA, No 57 of 2003) and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA).
• The MTPA claims that the amended Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) is flawed and fails to address previous Department of Environmental Affairs requests. Specifically, the agency asserts that biodiversity sensitivities are described vaguely and that significant biodiversity elements were omitted, contradicting MTPA's own 2013 site visits.
• The project is expected to cause permanent degradation of groundwater-dependent ecosystems, wetlands, and springs through mine water inflows and dewatering over the mine's 15-year lifespan. The MTPA notes a lack of effective mitigation plans for wetland loss and the long-term risks of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), which may not stabilize for a hundred years.
• The proposed site for above-ground infrastructure and discard dumps is deemed unacceptable because it is located near a network of wetlands and within the 1km restricted zone of a Critical Biodiversity River, which is a tributary of the Assegai river.
• The MTPA identifies the project area as a high-priority Biodiversity Conservation area and a Strategic water resource area containing 'Endangered' terrestrial ecosystems, specifically the Paulpietersburg Moist Grassland and Wakkerstroom Montane Grassland.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). annexure-9-4aea90f86e7d7da0.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Annexure-9.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. annexure-9-4aea90f86e7d7da0.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Annexure-9.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=annexure-9-4aea90f86e7d7da0.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Annexure-9.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrightsndannexure94aea90f86e7d7da0pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{annexure-9-4aea90f86e7d7da0.pdf}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Annexure-9.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }