Jones & Wagener > Public Documents > Integrated Regulatory Process for the proposed Rhovan TSF 1 Rehabilitation & TSF 2 Expansion, North West Province

Integrated Regulatory Process for the proposed Rhovan TSF 1 Rehabilitation & TSF 2 Expansion, North West Province


Integrated Regulatory Process (IRP) for the required environmental authorisation and licences for the proposed decommissioning and rehabilitation of Tailings Storage Facility 1 (TSF 1) and the expansion of TSF 2 at Glencore’s Rhovan Vanadium Mine, near Rustenburg, North West Province

Consultation Reports available for public review from 11 October 2024

Glencore’s Rhovan Vanadium Mine in the Rustenburg Local Municipality is undertaking an Integrated Regulatory Process (IRP) for the proposed decommissioning and rehabilitation of Tailings Storage Facility 1 (TSF 1) and the expansion of TSF 2. The following environmental authorisation and licences are required:

  • Environmental Authorisation (EA) and Waste Management Licence (WML) through a Basic Assessment (BA) process and the compilation of an Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998; NEMA) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations (2014, as amended), and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act 59 of 2008; NEM:WA);
  • Water Use Licence (WUL) through an Integrated Water Use Licence Application (IWULA) in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998).

Jones & Wagener (Pty) Ltd Engineering and Environmental Consultants (J&W) has been appointed to undertake the EA, WML and WUL applications for the proposed project.

An EA will be applied for under the NEMA EIA Regulations, Government Notice Regulation (GN R) No. 982 in Gazette 38282 of 04 December 2014 (as amended), for the following listed activities:

Listing Notice Listed Activities
Listing Notice 3 (GNR 324, as amended) Listed Activity 4 – Development of roads (approximately 15 metres wide) within a Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA).
Listed Activity 12 – Development of contractors camp (1.67 ha) within a CBA and increase of TSF1 footprint for rehabilitation, including stormwater infrastructure (78.75 ha).

A WML will be applied for under NEM:WA for the following listed activities in terms of the List of Waste Management Activities, GN R No. 921 in Gazette 37083 of 29 November 2013 (as amended):

Waste Management Activities
Waste management activities in terms of NEM:WA (GN R 921 (2013) as amended in GN R 332 (2014), GN R 633 (2015), GN R 242 (2017), GN R 1094 (2017) and GN R 1757 (2022)
Category A, Activity 13: The construction of a buttress and collector drainage system to raise the height of the TSF 2 to up to 35 metres above natural ground level with a total footprint of 80 ha.
Category A, Activity 14: Decommissioning and rehabilitation of TSF 1 to a rehabilitated footprint of 78.75 ha.

An IWULA will be submitted under the NWA and Regulations regarding the Procedural Requirements for Water Use Licence Applications and Appeals (GN R No. 267 in Gazette 40713 of 24 March 2017):

Section 21 Water Uses
Section 21 (g) – disposing of waste or water containing waste in a manner which may detrimentally impact on a water resource

The following farm portions may potentially be affected by the proposed activities:

  • Losperfontein 405 JQ (RE of portion 2)
  • Leeuwpen 403 JQ (RE)
  • Berseba 397 JQ (RE)

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) North West Regional Office and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) will process the EA and WML Application, and WUL Application respectively.

The following reports are available for public review:

  • Consultation Basic Assessment Report (CBAR) and EMPr available from 11 October to 11 November 2024 (30 days).
  • Consultation Water Use Licence Application Report available from 11 October to 10 December 2024 (60 days).

A copy of the documents may be accessed at the links below. Hard copies of the document can be reviewed at:

  • Bethanie Business Hub
  • Glencore Rhovan Vanadium Mine entrance (security office)

Your comments are important

Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) are invited to participate by providing comments and raising any issues of concern that they may have. Please register your attendance by contacting J&W in order to obtain details. To register as an I&AP please contact: Anelle Lötter / Gina Martin; Jones & Wagener (Pty) Ltd; P O Box 1434, Rivonia, 2128; Tel: (011) 519 0200; Email: anelle@jaws.co.za / gina@jaws.co.za.

Attachments:

Rhovan TSF 1 Rehabilitation & TSF 2 Expansion CBAR & EMPr

Rhovan TSF 1 Rehabilitation & TSF 2 Expansion CBAR & EMPr Appendices

Rhovan TSF 1 Rehabilitation & TSF 2 Expansion WULA Summary Report

Rhovan TSF 1 Rehabilitation & TSF 2 Expansion WULA Appendices