Project

Amatshe Mining (Pty) Ltd (Amatshe) is applying for a new Mining Right (MR) to mine gold ore, pyrite, silver ore, uranium, and aggregate within an existing MR area situated west to south-east of Johannesburg, in City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. The MR, historically granted to Central Rand Gold Mine under authorisation number GP 30/5/1/2/2(140) MR, comprises degraded land and disused shafts due to historical mining activities which pose a safety threat to nearby communities. The MR application area is connected by way of Main Reef Road running from west to east through the MR area. Soweto is located to the east of the MR application area with Alberton to the south-southeast and Gosforth to the east. The MR application area covers a combined area of approximately ±9,083.7 ha.

The MR application is for open cast and underground mining operations on the Main, South, Johnstone, Livingstone, Kimberly, Bird and White Reef conglomerates. Mine infrastructure is, however, only planned to be located on three separate areas, namely two shaft areas and one opencast area. The first shaft area will be located west of the old Central Rand Gold processing plant; off Nadine Street, between the Robertville industrial area and Florida (Robertville Shaft). Mine infrastructure at the Robertville shaft area will have an approximate footprint of 5 ha. The second shaft will be located near Riverlea just south of the George Harrison Park and T.C. Esterhuysen Primary School (Riverlea Shaft). The Riverlea Shaft area will have a similar footprint as the first shaft area of approximately 5 ha. The opencast area will be located approximately 500m west of the New Canada train station next to the old New Canada Dam (New Canada open cast).

OMI Solutions (Pty) Ltd. (OMI), as an independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner, has been appointed to undertake the Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process which is aimed at identifying and assessing the potential environmental and social impacts of the proposed mining operation.

The following environmental approvals are required for the proposed mining operation:

• A MR in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002);
• An Integrated Environmental Authorisation (IEA) in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998) read with the EIA Regulations, 2014 (as amended on 11 June 2021) and National Environmental Management: Waste Act (Act No. 59 of 2008) read with the List of Waste Management Activities, 2013 (as amended); and
• An Integrated Water Use Licence (IWUL) in terms of Section 21 of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998)