Singo Consulting (Pty) Ltd (on behalf of Inxenge Mining (Pty) Ltd) has submitted a prospecting right application, together with an environmental authorisation application to the Gauteng Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) for the proposed project for prospecting coal and clay resources on portions of the farm Varkensfontein, which is situated within the magisterial district of Nigel.

Residents, landowners and people in control of land in the area have been notified of the application through an advertisement which was published in HERAUT on July 8. Singo Consulting has been appointed as an independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to manage the environmental authorisation application, by conducting Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), public participation for the proposed project and compile an environmental management plan.

A basic assessment process has already commenced and for public participation purposes, all interested parties are urged to register their objections/comments on a form, which will be provided by the EAP.

A public participation meeting will only be scheduled after receipt of the necessary documents. It is therefore critical that anyone who wish to object or oppose the prospecting right application, should register on the prescribed form.

Singo Consulting has been appointed as an independent Environmental Consultant by Inxenge Mining to conduct the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), compile an Environmental Management Programme report (EMP) and undertake Public Participation Process (PPP). This is done for processes of acquiring environmental authorization for the proposed prospecting right application for coal and general clay.

The application is however, not handled by the City of Ekurhuleni, but by national and provincial departments and the results of the EIA (both negative and positive) will be submitted and made available to the department of mineral resources and if requested, environmental affairs, water and sanitation, landowners and other interested stakeholders.

This background information document therefore requests and invite members of the public to comment on the environmental, physical, social and economic impacts associated with the proposed prospecting activities. The prospecting area is situated approximately 11.7 km north of Nigel. Prospecting activities will be undertaken over a period of five years and are designed in phases, each phase conditional on the success of the previous phase. Both invasive and non-invasive methods are said to be implemented.

Should the prospecting right application succeed, highly protected nature areas like the Blesbokspruit and the Marievale Bird Sanctuary could be negatively affected and local residents are urged to register with Singo Consulting by sending an email to admin@singoconsulting.co.za or kenneth@singoconsulting.co.za or rudzani@singoconsulting.co.za. For more info, phone them on 013 692 0041 or 078 548 1244.