Coal Mining on the southern boundary of iMfolozi

[RogerFraser]

Mining application withdrawn – good news for Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
http://africageographic.com/blog/ibutho ... -imfolozi/

In the face of strenuous opposition from the iMfolozi Community and Wilderness Alliance (ICWA), of which WESSA is a member, Ibutho Coal and its specialist EIA team have now announced that they are withdrawing their current EIA application (a critical part of their mining license application) in the light of the objections and concerns raised. Ibutho Coal has indicated that they will be undertaking further consultation and studies before revisiting the Fuleni Mine plan.

WESSA and the ICWA have from the outset been vocal opponents of the Fuleni Mine proposal, which would be situated within the buffer zone of one of the most important conservation areas in KwaZulu Natal, would have significant detrimental effects on the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and would set a flawed precedent for future mining applications.

While WESSA and the ICWA are pleased to hear of the withdrawal of the current application, they remain convinced that Ibutho Coal needs to abandon the proposed site completely and look beyond the park’s buffer zone. The Somkhele Mine set a commendable example by deliberately setting itself away from the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park fence line when it recognised that the park is too important an asset for national conservation and for tourism to risk with mining impacts.

ESSA will remain involved in this case and hopes that Ibutho Coal will understand and comply with the Minister of Mineral Resources’ stricture that “some places are sacrosanct – they have such high conservation value that we together commit not to disturb!”

The ICWA is coordinated by the Global Environmental Trust and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has led the scientific objections to this mining application.

- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/ibutho ... hIIrg.dpuf

[Richprins]

If so, well done!

But sounds too good to be true, frankly?

More regrouping of forces and getting tenderducks in a row?

That's how it works in my province?

[Richprins]

A similar article:

Mining company puts Hluhluwe plans on hold

02 Dec 2015 03:10 PM



The mining company has promised to undertake further consultation with the affected communities.


Plans for the Fuleni coal mine on the border of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) have been put on hold after Ibutho Coal faced public outcry over the possibility of mining activities less than 100m from a national park.

Ibutho Coal says it received a number of comments on the draft Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Management Programme, which were published for comment earlier this year.

“After due consideration of the comments, Ibutho Coal together with its EIA specialist team are in the process of identifying options to address the noted concerns,” it said in a statement.

The mining company is now going back to the drawing board and has promised to undertake further consultation with the affected communities as well as conducting additional studies before taking any further action. It will also revisit the mine planning to reduce the zone of influence associated with the mine.

“As a result of the additional work planned for the project, no immediate engagement sessions will be scheduled, apart from ongoing community consultation,” Ibutho Consultant, Lizinda Dickson, said. She added that the public would be notified timeously of any future engagement sessions.

“I see this as a victory,” says Kirsten Youens, Environmental Law Specialist. She says the pressure the various environmental organisations have exercised to stop the mining have been a success. “It has resulted in the obvious need to re-look at the project and, if nothing else, it means a substantial delay in the project proceeding.”

However, although the mining plans have been put on hold for now, they have not been buried yet. Youens says: “It seems that the project has been put on hold until such time as Ibutho Coal wishes it to be put on hold for (better economic climate for coal perhaps) and until the consultants are able to properly address all the concerns of the interested and affected parties.”

Spokesperson for the iMfolozi Communities and Wilderness Alliance (ICWA) Sheila Berry says ICWA considers Ibutho Coal’s announcement to delay the Fuleni EIA process in order to undertake “additional work” is both a clear admission and confirmation that the public participation process (PPP) conducted by Naledi Consulting and the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared by Jacana Environmentals are grossly inadequate.

“It is too late for Ibutho to consider pursuing their seriously flawed EIA. Their decision to now consult with the affected Fuleni communities and other interested and affected parties is simply too late,” she says, adding that after two years Ibutho Coal has not held one public meeting to explain the project to the broader public.

Berry cautions everyone not to assume that this battle has been won. “Ibutho Coal has invested many millions in this proposal and is unlikely to walk away from it without a fight. We expect the onslaught to resume in the new year and so call on all our supporters to keep up the pressure to prevent the Fuleni coal mine project from seeing the light of day.”

See related articles: KwaZulu Natal

By Dorine Reinstein


http://www.tourismupdate.co.za/Home/Det ... eId=104609

[Toko]

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/ ... ne-2014855

‘16 000 homes to be demolished’ for proposed mine

NEWS/SOUTH-AFRICA/KWAZULU-NATAL /
27 April 2016 at 12:08pm
By: Bongani Hans

The stand-off is not only between community members and Ibutho Coal, which intends to mine on the land, as locals have also accused their traditional leaders of selling land to the company.

A senior official of Ibutho Coal, who is not authorised to speak to the media, told The Mercury on Tuesday that the Fuleni mine would go ahead despite the objections.

The homes of 16 000 families would have to be demolished.

A member of the Mthethwa Traditional Council, Mbhekeni Mthethwa, said the council had supported the mining after being convinced that it would bring development to the community.

“The company had promised us that the mining would come with development. Young people would be sent to universities to acquire mining skills.”

He said the mine would have a lifespan of about 40 years. He also said it was “inevitable” that homesteads, two schools and a clinic would be demolished to allow for the mine to be built.

Mthethwa said it was wrong of the community to involve lawyers in the matter that should be discussed within the jurisdiction of the tribal authority.

The community said it had been told that the company would give each family a cow and a goat to slaughter to apologise to ancestors for removing graves.

Late last week the community of Ocelwane, under the Mthethwa Tribal Authority, barricaded their dirt road with burning tyres and rocks to prevent officials of the government’s Regional Mining Development Environment Committee from inspecting the land.

The community established the Umfolozi Community Environment Justice Organisation two years ago to fight the mining. The organisation’s secretary, Phila Ndimande, said villages to be affected were Ocelwane, Ntuthunga, Novunula, Emakhwezini, Fuleni and Shayamoya.

It is also feared that air and noise pollution would affect the neighbouring Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Africa’s oldest game reserve.

Strangers driving into the area are met with hostility. The Mercury team was interrogated as one elderly man, Bhekukwenzelwa Ndimande, said: “There are lots of unscrupulous people coming here with bad intentions.”

Ndimande said accepting mining because of promises of employment opportunity and development would be like “accepting poisoned food”.

Mthethwa said the negotiations started in 2006 and agreements between the Mthethwa Traditional Council and Ibutho Coal were reached three years later.

“But the progress has been stalled by threats made by members of the community, especially those of Ocelwane,” he said.

Ndimande said the community was angry that despite its repeated rejection of the mining, Ibutho Coal officials kept coming to the area.

“They have brought in heavy duty machines without our approval. They have left holes on the ground that are dangerous to our cattle,” he said.

Across the Mfolozi River, in the Mkhwanazi Tribal Authority, is the 10-year-old Somkhele Coal Mine.

The Ocelwane community cited living close to this mine as the reason they were vigorously opposing to mining on their land.

They said Somkhele Mine polluted their air. Every time there was rock blasting, dust would settle on their houses.

For years we have been breathing polluted air, and we are suffering from chest problems.

This air is also not safe for our animals. Our houses have developed cracks due to the blasts, the community said.

They also said the blasts also traumatised children and livestock.

Thulebona Maphumulo said the company and the traditional council had failed to answer key questions.

“They have failed to tell us how they are going to manage air pollution.

“They have failed to assure us that we are not going to lose our homes and grazing land,” said Maphumulo.

The community appointed lawyers in 2011 to help them in their battle.

“The lawyers have taught us lots about the effects of mining. We have watched videos about how mining has destroyed people’s lives,” he said.

An adviser to Inkosi Temba Mthethwa, Bhekisisa Mthethwa, said the inkosi would not comment until the process was finalised to avoid taking sides.

A Lawyer for the community, Kirsten Youens, said in terms of the law, not only the traditional council should support the mining.

“These 16 000 families have not been spoken to. Whether the tribal authority intends to support the mine is one thing. The rest of the community has to support it as well.”

She said they would definitely take the matter to court if the Department of Mineral Resources gave permission for the company to mine.

“The tribal authority is supposed to represent the people,” she said.

The Mercury

[Lisbeth]

The community said it had been told that the company would give each family a cow and a goat to slaughter to apologise to ancestors for removing graves.

This is what they did to the native Americans 300 years ago (apart from killing them of course)

[Toko]

The tribal leaders of SA - who of the EU noses will ever understand why they still have powers in a "democratic" state

[Lisbeth]

Most likely taking advantage of the ignorance of the others. But how can the sale be legal

[nan]

ignoble

[Lisbeth]

KWAZULU-NATAL

The Tendele mining company is blasting for coal near the eastern boundary of the historic Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve. Now another company is searching for coal, directly on the reserve fence-line. Picture: Tony Carnie

Mystery ‘coal moles’ plan to burrow on fence-line of Africa’s oldest wilderness area

By Tony Carnie• 4 July 2018

There is a creature known in Zulu as the imvukuzane. It lives underground, has sharp claws and long teeth, but its face is rarely seen. It digs big holes and leaves quite a lot of mess behind on the surface. Daily Maverick picked up the scent of one poking its nose around on the boundaries of one of Africa’s oldest game reserves and followed the sooty footprints of this mysterious creature – all the way back to Fredman Towers in Sandton, where it seems to have concealed itself in the offices of a coal mining company with links to a Chinese energy group and two former government mining officials.

Imvukuzane is the isiZulu word for a species of blind mole with long claws that burrows energetically underground, leaving a trail of molehills above the surface.

It is also the name of a hitherto unknown mining company that aims to blast coal on the doorstep of one of Africa’s oldest game reserves and wilderness areas – disrupting tourism and wildlife and possibly displacing hundreds of rural people from their homes.

Six weeks ago on 22 May, Imvukuzane Resources (Pty) Ltd requested environmental approval from government to prospect for coal and other minerals and to dig 275 test boreholes in the Fuleni area, directly adjacent to the southern boundary of the flagship Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.

The two reserves were proclaimed in 1895, and later joined together to protect the last surviving population of Africa’s southern white rhinos and a host of other wildlife species.


Elephants slake their thirst close to where a new company hopes to explore for coal.
Picture: Wilderness Leadership School

Previous attempts to mine at Fuleni have been strongly opposed by local community groups and the provincial nature conservation agency, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

In a background document on the latest prospecting venture, Imvukuzane listed a postal address, but no details about the company’s ownership or history.

Initial requests for more company information were noted by Imvukuzane environmental consultant Christine Fouche but when no details were forthcoming, Daily Maverick did a company records search which suggests that Imvukuzane was only set up in April and currently has a single director (a 33-year-old Pretoria attorney).

Though the company’s prospecting application included a Johannesburg telephone number, the receptionist said she had no knowledge of Imvukuzane Resources.

But further investigation has revealed that this telephone number belongs in fact to Canyon Coal, a Sandton-based company established by Turkish-born entrepreneur Vuslat Bayoglu.

Canyon Coal board members and shareholders include Beijing-based energy trader Jason (Jianyun) Sun, along with Alan Gillespie, Rudzani Mudogwa, Pandelani Magudamani and Mehboob Kamaloodien.

Sun is the chief investment officer (Asia) of Mercuria Energy and helped to develop new metal, coal, gas and oil businesses in China, while Gillespie is managing director of Mercuria Energy Trading, South Africa.

Mudogwa and Magudamani were both previous employees of the Department of Mineral Resources, while Kamaloodienis involved in coal, limestone and quarry operations in Mpumalanga and North West provinces.

Responding to written questions, Bayogulu’s communications team denied that Imvukuzane was a subsidiary of Canyon Coal.



Canyon said Bayoglu planned to participate as a director and managing director of Imvukuzane along with “other interested parties”. They said Sun, Gillespie, Mudogwa, Magudamani and Kamaloodien would not be directors.

On why Canyon and Imvkuzane share the same telephone number, Canyon said some of its employees were requested to provide expertise and consulting services to Imvukuzane.

The company strongly denied suggestions that Canyon was attempting to conceal its interests in prospecting or mining at Fuleni by applying through the back door via an unknown company.

“There is no reason to conceal anything. Any person or company is free to apply for prospecting and mining rights subject to legislation. As you are surely aware and as pointed out above, the process to apply for a prospecting right involves public participation, and all of the documents are made available to the public for their input.

“There can be no applying ‘through the back door’ and in any event is there no need to do so. There will be an open and transparent process which is overseen by the Department of Mineral Resources . . . . It is this kind of suggestion, as you put it, that amounts to sensation seeking when the facts clearly show a different scenario,” Canyon stated.

Asked whether Canyon and its partners were aware of substantial opposition to previous attempts to mine coal in close proximity to Africa’s oldest game reserve and wilderness area, the company said:

“As far as we know, no mining is currently taking place in the area. The only application currently pending is for a prospecting right. The right has not been granted. As part of the process, interested and affected parties are given the opportunity to give comments and inputs.”

A separate company, Ibutho Coal, also applied for mining rights in Fuleni about four years ago, but seems to have abandoned the project following strong opposition from Ezemvelo and local community groups.

Previous studies commissioned by Ibutho to mine the same area suggested that several hundred people would have to abandon their houses, businesses, farming plots and ancestral graveyards if the project went ahead.

An environmental impact report on the Ibutho project suggested there more than 6,000 people in the Fuleni area – 1,900 at Ocilwane, 1,640 at Ntuthunga 1 village, 1,503 at Ntuthunga 2 village and about 1,245 at Novunala.

The direct impacts (blasting vibration, dust, noise and floodlights) would be felt 24 hours a day for seven days a week for over 30 years.

Apart from the blasting to loosen anthracite coal from the bedrock, the Jacana environmental consultancy suggested that noise from up to 200 coal trucks a day would radiate out to distances of around 1.5km during the day and about 3.5km at night.

These noise impacts would affect the tranquillity of the nearby iMfolozi wilderness area, a specially protected 32,000ha zone established through the efforts of the late conservationist Dr Ian Player. Wilderness areas cover less than 1% of the country’s surface area.

The report said the Ibutho mine would need up to 2,190 megawatt hours of electricity and 105-million litres of water a month, although the neighbouring iMfolozi River was already considered water-stressed.

Surface and groundwater in the vicinity of the mine could be poisoned from acidic mine drainage and other contaminants from mining, while underground mining could also cause the ground to subside. 2

Nearby, a separate company, Tendele Coal Mining is hoping to expand current mining operations to the eSiyembeni area – also directly adjacent to the wilderness area. DM

[Lisbeth]

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!