Question NW848 to the Minister of Mineral Resources
21 April 2016 - NW848
Lorimer, Mr JR to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources
(1) What amount is currently set aside in the financial provisions required under the (a) Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 107 of 2002 and (b) the National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 1998 as amended, for rehabilitation at the Optimum colliery; (2) (a) in what form, (b) where, and (c) by whom is this provision held; (3) is any concurrent rehabilitation being undertaken; if so, (a) what rehabilitation and (b) what amount of the financial provision (i) has been used to pay for the concurrent rehabilitation and (ii) is planned to be used for the concurrent rehabilitation in future; (4) is any rehabilitation at Optimum Colliery planned to take place before its closure; if so, (a) how will this be financed and (b) what control and involvement will his department have in these activities?
Reply:
(1)(a)(b) R 1, 513, 462,690.00 has been set aside for financial provision under both Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 107 of 2002 (MPRDA); and National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 1998 as amended (NEMA) for rehabilitation purposes.
(2)(a) Trust Fund
(b) In the deed of trust held by the Department of Mineral Resources
(c) Standard Bank
(3)(a) Yes, the company is conducting concurrent rehabilitation onsite
(b)(i) The amount used in 2015 for concurrent rehabilitation is R23, 684,043.44
(ii) The amount budgeted to be used in 2016 for concurrent rehabilitation is R59, 699,683.00
(4)(a) The company has an Environmental Management Programme (EMPr)/ Environmental Authorisation (EA) approved with the commitment to take responsibility to rehabilitate all environmental impacts resulted from mining operation throughout the life of the mine, in a form of rehabilitation programme.
The company uses operational funds within its budget to undertake concurrent rehabilitation and manage any impacts in the mining area.
(b) The Department conducts Environment Compliance and Monitoring inspections with regard to the approved Environmental Management Programme/Environmental Authorisation. If the findings of the inspections indicate non-compliance with the approved Environmental Management Programme/Environmental Authorisation, the Department issues the necessary notices.
Approved/not approved
Mr MJ Zwane, MP
Minister of Mineral Resources
Date Submitted:-………………/………………/2016