PROPOSED MINING RIGHT OVER A PORTION OF SEA CONCESSION 2A, SITUATED WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT OF NAMAQUALAND, NORTHERN CAPE

The area proposed for mining activities is located approximately 20km north of Port Nolloth and 35km south of Alexander Bay along the West Coast of South Africa. The applicant will use approved diamond mining operation plants in the Alexkor mine area on land to process the heavy minerals found off-shore. This application deals with the impacts off-shore. It is important to note that the removal of material does not take place on land. The activities above the low water mark associated with the proposed heavy minerals take place under an existing approved EMP. These activities include diamond mining techniques which are the same as those used for the heavy minerals. The heavy minerals will be extracted by the same process used for the diamond mining activities. Mining rights also exist to extract diamonds below the low water mark. The plants that process the heavy minerals are also the same approved plants for the diamonds. The diamond mining has approval to mine off-shore and on-shore under the approved EMP for Alexkor. It covers the entire coastline and is active.

In short, until now, the diamond mining operators were not allowed to take the heavy minerals from mined sediment. This application aims to get approval for heavy mineral extraction as part of the current diamond operations. No new or separate mine techniques are proposed and therefore no new impact is likely to occur on land.

Province(s): Northern Cape