Final Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Management Programme submitted on 29 August 2024

Application for Environmental Authorisation for the proposed Dispatch Rider underground mine at the Middelburg Mine Services North section for Seriti Power (Pty) Ltd in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, Mpumalanga

Seriti Power (Pty) Ltd (Seriti) has appointed Jones & Wagener (Pty) Ltd Engineering and Environmental Consultants (J&W) as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake the required Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) process for the proposed Dispatch Rider underground mine in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, Mpumalanga.

The proposed Dispatch Rider project is located within the existing Middelburg Mine Services (MMS) mining right boundary, except a portion of the area to be mined to the east, which forms part of the Dispatch Rider prospecting right area. The project is located between the towns of eMalahleni, Middelburg and Kriel, within the jurisdictional area of the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM) and the Nkangala District Municipality (NDM) of the Mpumalanga Province. The mine is situated approximately 18 km south of the town of Middelburg.

The following activities are being applied for under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (Act 107 of 1998):

Seriti will, in future, apply for the required Water Use Licence in terms of the National Water Act (NWA) (Act 36 of 1998) for the proposed development. Seriti is also in the process of undertaking a Section 102 application in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA) (Act 28 of 2002) to amend the mining right to include the Dispatch Rider prospecting area.

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (FEIR) AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (EMPR) HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY

Following the review of the Consultation Environmental Impact Report (CEIR), the report was finalised and was submitted on 29 August 2024 to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) – Mpumalanga Region for their review and approval.

Stakeholders are invited to download a copy of the FEIR – see link below.

Comments on the report can be directed to Themba Mazibuko, DMRE Case Officer at mazibuko@dmre.gov.za. Please ensure to use the project’s reference number – (MP) 30/5/1/2/3/2/1/379 EM and please copy J&W in your submissions to the DMRE.

The way forward will include the following steps:

• The DMRE will review the Final Report.
• Based on their findings the authority will grant or refuse authorisation – a decision stating that the project may go ahead as planned or a decision stating that the project may not continue. For either of the decisions, the DMRE will provide reasons.
• Stakeholders must be notified of the decision in writing, within 14 days of the date of the decision on the application.
• J&W will send this notification to stakeholders as well as the details of the appeal process. Any party may appeal the decision that was taken by the authority. Please note that there are specific appeals procedures to be followed.

For more information, contact: Anelle Lötter / Gina Martin, Tel: (011) 519-0200, Email: anelle@jaws.co.za / gina@jaws.co.za

Attachments:

• Dispatch Rider FEIR
• Dispatch Rider EMPr