Activists slam mine
ENVIRONMENTAL activists have slammed the development of an Elandsfontein phosphate mine, which is still in the process of being established, for de-watering a 5 to 10 million-year-old Elandsfontein aquifer.
The West Coast Environmental Protection Association (WCEPA) said during the course of last week they discovered that the Saldanha Bay Municipality planned to accept all water that developer Kropz Elandsfontein (Pty) Ltd (Kropz) is removing from the aquifer on which it has established its controversial opencast phosphate mine for the production of fertiliser.
The municipality’s decision followed an announcement earlier this month by Kropz that it would delay mining at Elandsfontein due to “technical issues identified during commissioning” – among others reasons.
During the delay, mine de-watering will continue, to allow access to suitable ore.
The activists are also challenging the company’s mining and water use licences in court.
WCEPA chairperson Carika van Zyl said the mine posed a threat to the eco-systems and livelihoods dependent on the Elandsfontein aquifer and the Langebaan Lagoon.
“We believe… the ‘technical issues’ to which Kropz refers are: (that) The Saldanha Bay Municipality is unable to provide the 1.6 million litres per day it promised to the mine and Kropz’s Water Use Licence (WUL) prohibits it from removing water directly from the aquifer,” said Van Zyl.
Kropz has been attempting to artificially recharge the aquifer at an injection rate never before successfully achieved in South Africa, she said.
“As expected by several water experts, the re-injection wells into the aquifer are ostensibly not working as well as planned.”
Senior associate at Cullinans & Associates Walter Anderson, representing the WCEPA, said one would expect drinking water and sustainable use of water resources to be the municipality’s first priority during a drought.
“When an emergency situation like this presents itself we have to question whether water-intensive industries like phosphate mining and processing are appropriate in perpetually water-stressed environments such as the West Coast.”
Van Zyl said Kropz acted recklessly from the beginning by establishing the mine without the necessary permits and contingencies.
“Since the water issues are only going to get worse, Saldanha Bay Municipality should not be complicit in allowing the mine to be further established, because it is not sustainable from a water management perspective.”
But Saldanha Bay Municipality spokesperson Ethne Julius said no final decision has been made on the development and the use of water from the aquifer.
“The utilisation of this water and the continuing of the project will be determined by the studies currently being done by consultants and hydrologists.
“The agreement with Elandsfontein Mine in terms of water will be honoured according to their water usage licence. The mine will also be subjected to the water restrictions applicable. Level 4b water restrictions will be tabled at Saldanha Bay Municipality’s council meeting for the municipality and council’s decision.”
She said the project would only continue if sustainable.
Kropz technical director Michelle Lawrence said Elandsfontein’s demand for potable water for processing amounted to less than 2% of the municipality’s total water demand.
“The municipality approached Elandsfontein requesting to use the water the mine is pumping from the aquifer to meet the needs of the municipality during this drought. Elandsfontein has shared the results and outcomes of its numerical ground water model to interested and affected parties. These results show that the operation’s activities will not impact that aquifer or the lagoon. Elandsfontein has presented these results at a number of public meetings.
“The allegations are absolutely baseless and without any scientific evidence. The reinjection wells into the aquifer are in fact working better than planned. Continued de-watering will ensure sustainable operations of the mine once operations recommence,” Lawrence said.
The project is in the commissioning phase.
“Many expert and specialist studies have been done on the impact of the aquifer and the Langebaan Lagoon. No other water users will be affected by the mine’s operations.”
The Mineral Resources Department said a mining right was issued in 2015, as it met the requirements of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, as amended. They confirmed a Water Use Licence (WUL) was issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).
The DWS did not respond to queries by deadline.