pml3-5528e044b82f4c9a.pdf

BirdLife South Africa submitted a formal objection on 5 April 2013 to the draft scoping report for the proposed Yzermyn Underground Coal Mine, operated by Atha Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd. The organization argues that the mine's location in the Grassland Important Bird Area (IBA) and its proximity to protected environments and endangered ecosystems make the application unsustainable and legally flawed.

• The proposed Yzermyn Underground Coal Mine is located within the Grassland Important Bird Area (IBA), which is recognized as both a national (SA 125) and global (ZA 016) IBA. This area is critical for the conservation of grassland endemic bird species, congregatory waterbirds, and IUCN Red Data List threatened species. Specifically, the document notes that approximately 85% of the global population of the regionally Critically Endangered Rudd’s Lark (Heteromira fruddi) is found within a 50 km radius of Wakkerstroom.
• The project area conflicts with several protected environments. It is directly adjacent to the proclaimed Kwamandiangampisi Protected Environment (KPE), meaning it falls within the KPE's buffer zone. Additionally, the project area conflicts with the proposed "KPE Phase 2," to be known as the Mabola Protected Environment (MPE), which the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) intended to have gazetted by December 2013.
• The application is described as "fatally flawed" because it is situated within the Wakkerstroom/Luneburg Threatened Grassland Ecosystem (MP 11), which is listed as Endangered under Section 52(1)(a) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act.
• BirdLife South Africa identifies several administrative and legal failures in the draft scoping report, including the lack of a rezoning plan to change the land use from agriculture to undetermined, the absence of signed approval from the Regional Manager for the Bunengi EMP, and the failure to include the Mining Right Application submitted on 19 March 2013.
• The mine may negatively impact bird species using Heyshope Dam, as the mine may extract water from this site. Heyshope Dam is a critical winter- and drought-refuge for waterfowl, supporting between 45,000 and 100,000 individuals across at least 52 species.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). pml3-5528e044b82f4c9a.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PML3.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. pml3-5528e044b82f4c9a.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PML3.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=pml3-5528e044b82f4c9a.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PML3.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrightsndpml35528e044b82f4c9apdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{pml3-5528e044b82f4c9a.pdf}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PML3.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }