Project

Transvaal Gold Mining Estates Limited (TGME) is the holder of various mining rights in the Sabie–Pilgrim’s Rest goldfield in the Mpumalanga Province. TGME was established in 1895 and is one of the oldest mining companies in the country.

TGME has commenced the implementation of the TGME Underground Redevelopment Project, which aims to redevelop historical underground mines located within its existing mining right areas. These include the Beta, Frankfort, Clewer–Dukes Hill Morgenzon (CDM), and Rietfontein underground mines. Ore from the underground operations, together with reclaimed historic waste rock dump material, will be processed at the approved TGME Process Plant, with tailings initially disposed of at the existing Tailings Storage Facility (TSF).

The Beta North, Frankfort and the CDM underground mines are located within mining right 83MR (reference number MP 30/5/1/2/2/83(10407) MR). These underground mines, together with the TGME Process Plant and the existing TSF and its approved extension, are fully permitted for implementation of the TGME Underground Project within the 83MR area.

The Beta Mining Complex comprises three distinct areas, namely Beta North, Beta Central, and Beta South. Currently, the 83MR mining right area includes only the Beta North Section. The redevelopment of the Beta Central and Beta South underground mines, together with underground deposition of tailings and future exploration activities, forms an integral part of the TGME Underground Redevelopment Project.

The 83MR Amendment: Beta Underground Redevelopment and Underground Deposition Project (“the project”) comprise of the following activities:

• Amendment of the 83 MR:
• • Extension of the 83MR to include the western part of the Remaining Extent of Grootfontein 562 KT into the mining right.
  • Consolidation of the 341MR (reference number: MP 30/5/1/2/2/341 MR) into the 83MR.
  • Update of the farms and portions as per the current surveyor general information associated with the 83MR since the original MR as indicated on the latest Regulation 2(2) plan.
• Beta Central and Beta South surface infrastructure:
  • To establish the underground mining project at the Beta Central and Beta South sections, additional infrastructure will have to be established to augment the existing surface infrastructure.
• Underground exploration activities
  • An underground drilling programme is proposed beneath the Grootfontein 562 KT properties, accessed via the Beta South Adit, to collect geological, grade, and metallurgical data for future feasibility studies.
• Underground deposition of tailings material into the historic Beta underground areas.
  • TGME proposes to deposit ore tailings into the historic underground voids surrounding the Beta North, Beta Central, and Beta South areas.
  • This approach will facilitate continued mining in adjacent sections while enabling the safe and permanent closure of the old adit and shaft areas associated with the historical Beta Mines.
  • In addition to enabling the safe and permanent closure of the old adit areas, the backfilling of old mine voids represents the most effective strategy for preventing current and future illegal mining activities and minimises surface disturbance to a CBA.

The proposed Beta Underground Redevelopment Project will require the establishment of additional surface infrastructure at the Beta Central (0.9 ha) and Beta South (0.7) access areas (adits) to support underground mining operations. The proposed underground deposition of ore tailings will be pumped as thickener underflow slurry to a Backfill Plant (approx. 0.3 ha) located in an existing brownfields area adjacent to the TGME TSF and deposited into underground voids that will be progressively sealed.

These developments and ancillary infrastructure triggers Listed Activities under the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998) (NEMA) and Waste Management Activities the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act 59 of 2008) (NEMWA) requiring that a Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process be undertaken to obtain an integrated Environmental Authorisation (EA). This process includes a comprehensive public consultation process.