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2010-03-09 : OBJECTION TO COAL MINE NEXT TO GREATER MAPUNGUBWE TFCA |
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Peace Parks Foundation objects to the planned mine next to the Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area. | |
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The Australian company Coal of Africa Limited (CoAL) recently announced that it had been awarded ‘unconditional new order mining rights' for the Vele Coking Coal Project in Musina, Limpopo, by the South African Department of Mineral Resources. This despite the fact that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process on access and fuel storage for Vele is still under way and a water license has not been approved. Another planned development next to Vele, the Mulilo Power Station, is currently undergoing an EIA. Anglo Coal has also completed prospecting on the same coal field adjacent to Mapungubwe and several mining companies including CoAL are active in the coal field north of the Soutpansberg. The Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape was declared a World Heritage Site in July 2003. Mapungubwe is home to the famous Golden Rhino - a symbol of the power A stakeholder group consisting of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), WWF South Africa, the Mapungubwe Action Group, the Office of the International Coordinator for the Greater Mapungubwe TFCA and Peace Parks Foundation is objecting to all industrial activity in this part of the Limpopo Valley without an approved integrated regional development plan. Comments have been filed on the Vele EIA and environmental management plan. The stakeholder group has also asked for more information regarding the awarding of mining rights, but to date no response has been received. Peace Parks Foundation is deeply concerned about the impact industrial activity will have on this area; remains unconvinced that it will not have severe detrimental effects on the environment and water resources of the area; has not been persuaded that this area is the only one available for such industrial activity; and above all questions the fact that such activity will be allowed within the footprint of a World Heritage Site and wonders whether the same would be allowed in other such similar sites, notably that of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Ayers Rock - Mount Olga), seeing as Coal of Africa is from Australia. Your assistance in preventing this unique African cultural heritage site and environmental treasure from being ruined would be much appreciated. How you can help The Endangered Wildlife Trust and Peace Parks Foundation, together with other interest groups, have instructed the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa to institute legal proceedings to review the granting of the mining right and to take appropriate steps to seek to prevent, in the interim, any activity that may cause significant and irreversible harm to the environmental integrity of the area. Funds will have to be raised to support the litigation. This is likely to be a test case for mining activity in this area, and it is critical that the litigation is supported by sufficient funding. Additional funds also will be required for specialist reviews, an advocacy and media campaign, and various administrative costs. To this end, the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Peace Parks Foundation have set up a cost code for any and all legal expenses related to the intended development of a coal mine near the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site. If you would like to assist by contributing to this fund, kindly click on the PDF for a list of our banking details.  View/download PDF FileA secure on line payment could also be made by clicking here. You could also do so by clicking on DONATE NOW on the left menu - Important: Please then click on Vele Coal Mine in the drop down menu. Kindly note that Givengain charges a transaction fee for online payments. Details of the fees are contained in the following PDF. View/download PDF FileShould you wish to become a member of the Mapungubwe Action Group, kindly contact Mr Paul Hatty. We will ensure that all relevant information and updates pertaining to the case will be communicated to you should you wish to become involved. Thank you for your participation in this critical issue. [source: Peace Parks Foundation] |
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