Johannesburg - Coal of Africa Limited (CoAL) says the Department
of Mineral Resources has given it the environmental go ahead for Vele Colliery.
It says the department has granted an Environmental Authorisation
in terms of the National Environmental Management Act and the Environmental Impact
Assessment Regulations for Vele Colliery for stream diversion and associated infrastructural
activities.
The junior miner adds it is still waiting for approval of
an Integrated Water Use Licence from the Department of Water and Sanitation
which is the final regulatory approval required for the stream diversion in respect
of the Vele Plant Modification Project.
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of Africa gets nod to transfer Makhado
CEO David Brown welcomed the decision and says, once the
water user licence is approved, it will look at a final decision for the plant
modification project, which will include an assessment of forecast global coal prices.
“A new benchmark for co-existence between mining,
agriculture and heritage land uses is being set at Vele, with the on-going
implementation of the historic biodiversity offset agreement between the Department
of Environmental Affairs, the South African National Parks and CoAL.”
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