N’KOMATI ANTRHACITE (PTY) LTD – GREATER BLOCK L OPENCAST PIT

N’Komati Anthracite Mine is an existing opencast strip and underground mining operation owned by Nkomati Anthracite Mine (Pty) Limited under Afrimat Limited situated in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa, approximately 52 kilometres south of Komatipoort and 10 km east of Mzinti. Nkomati Anthracite (Pty) Ltd has an existing mining right (reference MP30/5/1/2/2/89MR), which was renewed on 26 January 2022 by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) now known as the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR). The Mining Right is valid for a period of 30 years.
The Mine is currently abstracting anthracite by means of both underground and opencast mining methods at the Mangweni and Madadeni Operations. Ore is hauled via trucks to the existing Beneficiation Plant on site, where it is washed, sorted and transported to clients. The mine is divided into the following operational areas, namely:
• Mangweni Operations (Underground & mini pit)
o Overburden stockpiles, offices and change houses, workshop complex, Run of Mine Stockpile, topsoil stockpile
• Madadeni Operations (Open Pit and Underground)
o Overburden stockpiles, site offices, haul road, Run of Mine Stockpile, topsoil stockpile
• Beneficiation Plant; and
o Product stockpile area, discard/slurry co-disposal area, Pollution Control Dams, Salvage and Workshop Area and explosive storage area
• Block L (Open Pit)
o Overburden Stockpile
In 2024 N’Komati Anthracite Mine undertook an Integrated Environmental Authorisation Process for additional Opencast Mining Areas and Expansion of the Madadeni Underground mining area (which included the Greater Block L Project). There was a recommendation by the DMPR that further consultation with adjacent communities be undertaken regarding the proposed Greater Block L mining activities and associated aspects pertaining to this. A Basic Assessment Process is followed to ensure that community consultation is undertaken. This Basic Assessment Process supplements the Integrated Environmental Authorisation Process already undertaken (2024).
Alta van Dyk Environmental Consultants (Pty) Ltd (AvDE) have been appointed as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) for the project to undertake the environmental related authorisations and associated public participation process.

Province(s): Mpumalanga