SAVE responds to Sasol's draft EMPR for the proposed NWSO.
An initial evaluation of the draft report prepared by Sasol's consultants, Walmsley Environmental Consultants (Pty) Ltd. (Walmsley) serves to confirm the worst fears expressed by the community.
Whilst Walmsley has claimed that most impacts can be limited to moderate or low levels, a reading of the relevant definitions shows these claims to be both misleading and unquantified. The fact of the matter is that whether it is water quality, noise, visual impact, air quality, wetlands, intrinsic value or any other area of concern relating to the proposed mine, there will only be negative consequences for the community at large with the only party standing to benefit being Sasol.
The report has confirmed that the destruction of the Rietspruit Wetland would, on a cumulative basis, have a HIGH negative impact on a national scale. The size and status of this wetland is clearly in dispute, with S.A.V.E. having commissioned its own independent specialists to assess these aspects and submit a definitive document to RAMSAR for their opinion on the conservation status of the wetland.
Given the above it is of great concern that Sasol has refused to evaluate on a transparent basis, all viable alternatives to the strip mine despite being instructed to by the Government, or to determine the most appropriate land use for the proposed site, as called for in the Development Facilitation Act No. 67 of 1995. It should be pointed out that Sasol has, in fact, refused to make available any information relating to alternatives in the report. This concern is reinforced by the Walmsley report which states that should Sasol not be given approval to proceed with the mine, it is " highly probable that an alternative coal supply would be identified by Sigma Colliery ".
In addition we quote " If another coal reserve is found in the Sasolburg area it is conceivable that its development would have little impact on the GGP of the region" S.A.V.E. will be preparing a detailed submission to the relevant Government Authorities taking into account the information available in the Walmsley report together with the data that has been independently determined by S.A.V.E. relating to the proposed mine.