REQUEST FOR SUSPENSION OF THE DECISION OF THE MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, OR A DELEGEE, TO GRANT AN AMENDMENT OF MINING RIGHT(S) IN RESPECT OF THE TORMIN MINE ON THE WEST COAST IN TERMS OF SECTION 102 OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has requested the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy to suspend a decision granting Mineral Sands Resources (Pty) Ltd (MSR) an amendment to its mining rights for the expansion of the Tormin Mine on the West Coast of South Africa. The CER argues that the decision was made without public participation and poses an irreparable risk to Critical Biodiversity Areas.

• The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has lodged an internal appeal and a suspension application against a decision made under section 102 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) to allow Mineral Sands Resources (Pty) Ltd (MSR) to expand the Tormin Mine.
• The CER alleges that the decision to grant the mining right amendment lacked transparency and was conducted without any public consultation.
• The proposed expansion area is located within Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and a recognized ecological corridor, which are priority areas for conserving South Africa's biodiversity.
• The CER asserts that the Namaqualand Strandveld vegetation in the area is extremely slow to rehabilitate, making the biodiversity impacts of mining irreversible.
• The CER claims that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) failed to adequately assess cumulative impacts, specifically ignoring the effects of other existing or applied-for mining operations in the coastal and offshore regions.
• The CER argues that the project lacks necessary biodiversity offsets and relies on 'search and rescue' for species of conservation concern, a method discouraged by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).
• Evidence from an ASX release dated 11 September 2020 suggests that MSR began mining activities related to the expansion before the CER's appeal process was resolved.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2020). REQUEST FOR SUSPENSION OF THE DECISION OF THE MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, OR A DELEGEE, TO GRANT AN AMENDMENT OF MINING RIGHT(S) IN RESPECT OF THE TORMIN MINE ON THE WEST COAST IN TERMS OF SECTION 102 OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CER-letter-to-the-Minister-and-DG-Tormin-expansion-29-September-2020.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. REQUEST FOR SUSPENSION OF THE DECISION OF THE MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, OR A DELEGEE, TO GRANT AN AMENDMENT OF MINING RIGHT(S) IN RESPECT OF THE TORMIN MINE ON THE WEST COAST IN TERMS OF SECTION 102 OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT. 2020. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CER-letter-to-the-Minister-and-DG-Tormin-expansion-29-September-2020.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=REQUEST FOR SUSPENSION OF THE DECISION OF THE MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, OR A DELEGEE, TO GRANT AN AMENDMENT OF MINING RIGHT(S) IN RESPECT OF THE TORMIN MINE ON THE WEST COAST IN TERMS OF SECTION 102 OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT |date=29 September 2020 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CER-letter-to-the-Minister-and-DG-Tormin-expansion-29-September-2020.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2020request, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{REQUEST FOR SUSPENSION OF THE DECISION OF THE MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, OR A DELEGEE, TO GRANT AN AMENDMENT OF MINING RIGHT(S) IN RESPECT OF THE TORMIN MINE ON THE WEST COAST IN TERMS OF SECTION 102 OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CER-letter-to-the-Minister-and-DG-Tormin-expansion-29-September-2020.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }