Tiny plant delays uranium mining

URANIUM mining in the Karoo has again been delayed – this time by the discovery of a “minuscule” plant by local farmers.

This is according to Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI)’s science advisor, Dr Stefan Cramer, who said that Karoo residents would again find themselves at the centre of attention, with the national television programme Carte Blanche is set to discuss issues around uranium mining this Sunday.

“While the crew was filming in the Aberdeen neighbourhood the news broke – the Australian mining company Peninsula, intending to mine the Karoo expanses for uranium, has been forced yet again, now for the third time, to delay its application for mining rights. They want to dig up the Kareepoort Block in the Eastern Cape and the Ryst Kuil and Quaggasfontein Blocks in the Western Cape. The two reasons for the delay given to the Department of Mineral Resources were not only the more than 1 000 objections from the local residents but, more importantly, the discovery of the tiny Nananthus plant right where the bulldozers are waiting,” Cramer said.

“This is perhaps a brand new Karoo species that will have to be studied in detail before its conservation status can be determined. The botanical survey commissioned by the mining house was of such inferior quality that it did not only overlook this plant, but close to a hundred other plant types as well,” he added.

Cramer said this was a “small but significant victory for Karoo residents opposing mining in their backyard”. “It is a harbinger for more obstacles to come, as there are many more and potentially more serious flaws in the application documents.”