CHRISSIESMEER – The battle lines are drawn in Mpumalanga’s lake district with concerned residents and environmentalists pitted against coal miners and the unemployed of the region. A natural ecosystem over 20 million years old stands in the way of man’s modern day need for coal as an energy resource.
Background
In March this year, interested and affected parties received a notice that the Mpumalanga Regional Office of the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has accepted an application from a subsidiary of Xtrata Coal South Africa for a mining right over five properties within the Chrissiesmeer Biodiversity Site. The application was for the establishment of what would be known as the Harwar Colliery.
With the coal belt 20 to 30 metres below the surface, the proposed mining activity would be with the open-pit method.
Authorities, landowners, communities, civil rights groups and NGOs are now expending time and other resources to participate in the legally required participation processes that accompany such an application.
Conservation of the Mpumalanga Lakes District
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency made a submission to the regional manager of the DMR in 2010, in an attempt to protect this district, with its 270 natural pans and the largest natural lake in the country. It wanted this area prohibited from future mining activity. The minister announced her intention to protect the Chrissiesmeer area from mining in 2011, but a final declaration in the government gazette was apparently never made and thus the restriction is not enforceable.
Wits University ecologist, Professor Terence McCarthy has indicated in academic reports that the build-up of toxins in the pans, an inevitable effect of coal mining will eventually kill all plant life and fish.
According to the MTPA, there’s still a process of consultations taking place before the Chrissiesmeer biodiveristy area can be declared safe from future mining activities.
A mixed reaction from the community
Investigative journalist, Mr Franz Fuls has indicated, that in his opinion, mining in the area will destroy the efforts of several emerging farmers who are attempting to establish a long term and sustainable income for the community.
But the unemployed and poor of the district don’t share this view. At a meeting in March, a group of them hijacked a consultative meeting regarding the issue, and insisted that they want a mine and the jobs it will provide. Xolani Nsibande said, “I strongly believe that Msobo Coal, who purchased Xtrata’s mining operations in Mpumalanga, will bring significant changes to the economic struggle in the community.”
In 2011, more than 40 per cent of Mpumalanga was subject to mining prospecting rights applications and 13 per cent to mining rights applications.
“A panel has been set up to advise the MEC on this matter and it will sit end of November 2013. Based on the recommendations, we trust that by early next year we will have an outcome on whether it will be proclaimed or not,” responded spokesman, Kholofelo Nkambule.
Read more about the ongoing battle online at lowvelder.co.za or at https://franzfuls.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/choosing-between-coal-or-wetlands-in-chrissiesmeer/
