Question NW802 to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
05 April 2022 - NW802
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
(1) What steps will (a) he and/or (b) his department take to prevent contamination of water flowing in the rivers (details furnished); (2) whether he will furnish Ms A M M Weber with a list of all mines in Mpumalanga that (a) have been rehabilitated in the past 10 years and (b) are currently being rehabilitated; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) what is the current cost of (a) all rehabilitated mines and (b) mines that are being rehabilitated at the moment; (4) whether he will provide Ms A M M Weber with the names of all un-rehabilitated mines in Mpumalanga; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW981E
Reply:
1.a) All water resources are managed through the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998), under the competency of the Minister of Water and Sanitation, all mines are mandated to acquire water use License prior commencing with mining activities
2(a)(b) The Department has record of the Authorised mining operations conducting concurrent rehabilitations on portion/s of the disturbed environment, however there’s no recorded of a complete rehabilitated and closed mining operations in Mpumalanga. All mining operations conduct concurrent rehabilitation in accordance with the approved Environmental management Program/Environmental Authorisation
3(a)(b) Mining companies submit an annual Environmental Audit report which describe the current environmental disturbances and conducted rehabilitation process with a quantum calculation on the extent of the activities within the mining operations. This report further provides the operational cost on the management of the potential impacts with the adjustment of the financial provision. All mining operations conduct concurrent rehabilitation in accordance with the approved Environmental management Program/Environmental Authorisation
4) All holders of rights and permits whose operations are underway or placed under Business Rescue Practice have some level of outstanding rehabilitation, and the Department continuously monitor these operations to ensure that the State is not exposed to the risk of inheriting liability.