Authorization Status: No prospecting right has been granted to the applicant yet. The application for a prospecting right was submitted to the DMR in August 2011, followed by an acceptance according to Section 16 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act 28 of 2002) on 4 December 2011. Following the acceptance of an application the applicant is required to submit an EMP to the DMR. The DMR then has the right to grant or refuse the application based on their review.
Please note that the Prospecting EMP is in the process of being compiled and still needs to be considered and approved by the DMR before prospecting activities can begin. The site specific EMP will also contain a site sensitivity map that will highlight the sensitive and no go areas on the proposed prospecting sites. This EMP also states the conditions recommended through specialists for inclusion as conditions should the right be awarded to the applicant.
Prospecting Applicant - Company: It appears that the public has been misinformed in this regard. The Applicant is a South African registered company forming part of a group that has a successful track record of mineral exploration and development, which is undertaken with due consideration for South African environmental legislation and related requirements.
Prospecting methods:
Should the right be granted to the Applicant the prospecting would be conducted in separate phases namely:
Phase 1
Non-Invasive Activities (Desktop Studies / Sidescan sonar)
Determining the location of the shell/sand will be carried out using a sidescan sonar which will indicate the superficial sediment exposure. This will be followed by a pinger survey to indicate the sediment thickness. Phase 1 will be conducted over the entire area typically by means of a 30-35 m vessel equipped with the necessary geophysical instruments. Importantly these are well established non-invasive exploration techniques.
Phase 2
Limited Small scale Core sampling Activities
Once the sediment location has been established, phase 2 will be focused on the very small and specific areas containing the desired sediments. A vessel equipped for sediment recovery on the seabed will be utilized to do this. Small sediment samples of about 5 -10 kg will be obtained by either lowering a grab sampler (500mm x 300mm total size) onto the seabed or by lowering a small tripod, some 3m in height, with an attached impact hammer onto the seabed. A PVC pipe (80 – 100mm diameter) will be pushed into the sediment layer (to a depth of about 20-30 cms). The sediment trapped in the pipe will be brought to surface. The sample obtained by these methods will be sent to a laboratory for a chemical analysis.
It is expected that this phase will be limited to an area of 10 000ha with approximately 80 core and grab samples to be taken.
Phase 3
Pre-/Feasibility studies
Results obtained from the prospecting will be used to create a resource model and a dredging plan to consider the next stage of evaluation which would be a Pre-feasibility OR feasibility study of the project area.
Please note that only after phase I; should the application be granted by DMR, will there be clarity if the applicant would want to move into phase II and III and in which areas. This initial consultation process main aim is to get IAP’s opinions and concerns in this regard and to establish communication channels between land owners, lawful occupiers, other I&APs and the Prospecting Company. Should the prospecting be successful, which is not guaranteed, a separate Mining Right and COMPREHENSIVE EIA process would be required according to the relevant South African legislation, having its own public participation requirements, amongst other should the applicant wish to make a mining right application.
Kind regards,
Michael Grobler Environmental Assessment Practitioner | Pri. Sci. Nat
B. Sc Hons |
