BHP BILLITON/OPTIMUM COAL MINE (PTY) LTD SCHOONOORD

The document details a dispute involving BHP Billiton and the Optimum Colliery, focusing on the conversion of 'old order rights' under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA). Landowners Jacobus Oosthuysen and the Jaco Oosthuysen Trust appealed the conversion of these rights, citing a total lack of notification and public participation. The case highlights systemic failures in the Environmental Management Programme (EMP), specifically the failure to assess alternative land uses, the 'no go' option, and cumulative impacts. Additionally, the appellants alleged that the mining company engaged in illegal mining activities not approved in the EMP.

• The conversion of old order mining rights at the Optimum Colliery was marked by significant procedural failures in public participation, specifically that landowners received no notification of the application for conversion.
• The Environmental Management Programme (EMP) for the operation was deficient because it did not evaluate the 'no go' option, assess the mining option against alternative land uses, or properly consider cumulative impacts.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). BHP BILLITON/OPTIMUM COAL MINE (PTY) LTD SCHOONOORD. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Optimum-Colliery-Schoonoord.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. BHP BILLITON/OPTIMUM COAL MINE (PTY) LTD SCHOONOORD. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Optimum-Colliery-Schoonoord.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=BHP BILLITON/OPTIMUM COAL MINE (PTY) LTD SCHOONOORD |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Optimum-Colliery-Schoonoord.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndbhp, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{BHP BILLITON/OPTIMUM COAL MINE (PTY) LTD SCHOONOORD}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Optimum-Colliery-Schoonoord.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }