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9-049d4dd440ba8aa7.pdf
The document consists of a series of legal and administrative records regarding a land-use change application for Portion 1 of the farm Yzermyn 96 HT in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The application, submitted by Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd, sought to rezone the land from agricultural to 'special' use to allow for mining and related activities. The process involved multiple objections from environmental organizations and landowners, a dismissal by a local planning tribunal based on a lack of locus standi, a subsequent appeal, and a final approval by the Gert Sibande District Municipal Planning Tribunal on 29 April 2019.
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Document type: Report
acacia-additional-information-ea5c2683bc405676.pdf
This briefing from Eskom to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) provides additional information supporting an application to postpone compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES) for the Acacia Power Station. Eskom argues that the station's infrequent use as a peaking plant results in negligible impacts on ambient air quality and human health, and proposes decommissioning the facility around 2026.
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Document type: Briefing
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.
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Document type: Statement
annexure-7-19127bdadb17e0da.pdf
The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) expresses strong opposition to the proposed Yzermyn Underground coal mine in the Mpumalanga Region, citing critical risks to wetlands, water quality, and protected environments. The DWA identifies the project's location within a National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area as a "fatal flaw" and notes that the mine could cause significant groundwater contamination and the drying up of wetlands.
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Document type: Briefing
annexure-8_rod-medupi-sept-20061-45785b3ada174203.pdf
The document is a Record of Decision (ROD) issued by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) on September 21, 2006. It grants conditional authorization to Eskom Holdings Limited: Generation Division for the construction of a 4800MW coal-fired power station and associated infrastructure near Lephalale, while specifically excluding authorization for waste and ash disposal pending further investigation into alternatives.
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Document type: Statement
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.
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Document type: Statement
KM_C554e-20161116154632
This document is a technical report from the Chief Directorate: Water Use Authorisation Authority of the Department of Water and Sanitation of the Republic of South Africa, dated July 5, 2016. It details the water management infrastructure, water balance simulations, and environmental impacts associated with mining activities by Atha-Africa Ventures, specifically focusing on the YUCM (Yzermyn Underground Coal Mine) and surrounding areas including Kromhoek, Vaalbank, and Goedgevonden.
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Document type: Report
KM_C554e-20161116154711
This document is a technical assessment and recommendation report from the Chief Directorate: Water Use Authorisation Authority regarding water use licensing for a mining project. It details groundwater recharge and quality for Quaternary Catchment W51A, outlines potential impacts on surface and groundwater, and provides mitigation measures and administrative requirements for the issuance of a water use licence.
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Document type: Report
annexure-ra10-3acb20cabcb5c6cf.pdf
This document is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report and Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) for the Tormin Mine Extension, prepared by SRK Consulting for MSR. It details the potential environmental impacts of the mine expansion, proposed mitigation measures, and the financial and operational plans for rehabilitation and closure.
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Document type: Report
annexure-ra8-d53d1a31de230506.pdf
This document is an appendix to an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) for the Tormin Mine Extension, specifically focusing on the potential terrestrial ecology impacts during the construction, operational, and closure phases. It details the assessment of vegetation, fauna, and avifauna, identifying risks such as habitat loss, collisions with powerlines, and soil erosion, while proposing specific mitigation measures to reduce these impacts from high or medium significance to low or insignificant levels.
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Document type: Report
annexures-3bdbf4a4425f6eb6.pdf
The document details the process and disputes surrounding the extension of the Tormin Mineral Sands Mine. It includes a Background Information Document and an Executive Summary of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) prepared by SRK Consulting for Mineral Sands Resources (Pty) Ltd (MSR), outlining plans to mine ten beaches and an inland strandline. It also contains a detailed appeal by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), which argues that the extension is an unlawful circumvention of mining right applications, fails to adequately protect Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs), and relies on unproven rehabilitation success. Additionally, the CER's correspondence alleges multiple environmental violations by MSR, including unauthorised road construction and sea dumping, and requests the cancellation of the mine's existing rights.
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Document type: Briefing
annexures-p-1-d76ca185c8808798.pdf
This document consists of a collection of annexures related to environmental authorizations and water use licenses for the Yzermyn Underground Coal Mine, operated by Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd in South Africa. It includes correspondence regarding environmental impact assessments and a detailed Water Use License (WUL) specifying permitted water activities, monitoring requirements, and environmental constraints.
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Document type: Report
arnot-additional-information-453d2e34c428bec3.pdf
This document is a formal response from Eskom to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) regarding an application to postpone compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES) for the Arnot Power Station. It provides specific stack emission limits, outlines Eskom's lack of plans to upgrade the station for certain pollutants, and presents ambient air quality monitoring data from the Hendrina station.
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Document type: Statement
The Looming Threat of Bulk Marine Sediment Mining
The document outlines the threats posed by bulk marine sediment mining, specifically the use of Trailing Suction Hopper-Dredge (TSHD) technology, and calls for a moratorium in South Africa to protect marine ecosystems and fisheries.
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Document type: Fact sheet
fa72-report-prepared-by-sasol-infrachem-dated-april-2014-96a1d5f3cba39bb0.pdf
This April 2014 report is a draft motivation by Sasol Infrachem for exemption from the default application of certain Minimum Emissions Standards (MES) published in Government Notice No. 893 (GN 893) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (NEMAQA). Sasol Infrachem argues that strict compliance with certain existing and new plant standards is technically or financially unachievable for specific point sources at its Sasolburg complex. The document proposes alternative emissions limits as license conditions and provides an Atmospheric Impact Report (AIR) to demonstrate that these alternatives maintain ambient air quality within National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
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Document type: Report
The impacts of government’s plans for 1500 MW of new coal power in South Africa
The document argues that adding 1.5 GW of new coal power to South Africa's electricity system is unnecessary for reliability and would increase costs, emissions, and GDP loss while reducing employment compared to a least-cost plan focusing on renewable alternatives.
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Document type: Fact sheet
GROUNDWORK’S RESPONDING STATEMENT TO KARPOWERSHIP SA (PTY) LTD’S APPEAL AGAINST THE ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION REFUSAL DECISION (EA NO. 14/12/16/3/3/2/2005): NGQURA
This responding statement, submitted by groundWork, argues against an appeal by Karpowership SA (PTY) Ltd regarding the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's (DFFE) June 23, 2021, decision to refuse Environmental Authorisation (EA) for a gas-to-power project at the Port of Ngqura. groundWork contends that the project is neither necessary nor desirable, citing significant environmental risks, inadequate public participation, and the existence of more sustainable energy alternatives.
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Document type: Statement
matimba-health-risk-assessment_4-e511e2ce511b06c2.pdf
This report analyzes the health risks associated with air pollution from the existing Matimba Power Station and the proposed Project Alpha in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It compares scenarios with and without sulphur dioxide (SO2) controls for Project Alpha, estimating the impact on non-accidental mortality and respiratory hospital admissions (RHAs).
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Document type: Report
mmsez_record_of_decision-ba2417220fcfaa0c.pdf
The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) has granted environmental authorisation for the establishment of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) South Site. The authorisation specifically covers the clearance of indigenous vegetation, installation of bulk services infrastructure, and fencing for a metallurgical cluster, reducing the project footprint to 3,862 hectares.
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Document type: Statement
THE MYTH OF “CLEAN COAL”
The document asserts that "clean coal" is impossible, as the entire coal cycle—from mining to combustion—causes severe damage to health, water, and the climate. It critiques three specific technologies: High Efficiency, Low Emissions (HELE) plants, which only reduce CO2 by up to 20% while increasing costs; Circulating Fluidised Bed (CFB) systems, which increase solid waste and N2O emissions; and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), which remains unproven in South Africa and faces high costs and geological transport challenges. The text highlights that Eskom and Sasol are primary coal users in South Africa, and that wind and solar power are cleaner, cheaper alternatives.
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Document type: Fact sheet