Furore over US$100m coal mining project

Thursday, 01 July 2010 20:30

A PLANNED US$100 million coal mining project in Gwayi is threatening surrounding wildlife conservancies as well as raising fears it will pollute the Gwayi-Shangani dam, which is viewed as Bulawayo’s solution to water problems.
Liberation Mine, a joint venture firm between Zimbabwean and South African investors, was granted a licence to prospect for coal-bed methane on February 22 and has been clearing vast tracks of land for coal extraction.


The community and players involved in the dam construction fear that activity on the coal fields will affect wildlife and the water project.


Maxwell Sibanda, an official with Gwayi Conservancy Association, yesterday said due to the extensive usage of chemicals such as benzene in coal mining, the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and its green belt that sustains a wide array of wildlife could be a casualty.


“What is more worrying is that the environment impact report is not yet out, but exploration work is underway. We fear that chemicals used in mining could seep through to the dam site and contaminate the water. This would require extensive use of water purification chemicals,” said Sibanda.


He added that once the water was contaminated, downstream agricultural industries such as fisheries, which sustain local communities, would collapse.


“It is common knowledge that fish cannot survive in contaminated water, so the fish industries might fail to take off,” Sibanda said.


Regarding wildlife, Sibanda said coal dust would affect the growth of vegetation, while noise associated with mining activities could force animals that include a large herd of elephants to flee.
“Another worry is on vegetation,” he said “Coal dust is known to affect the growth of trees just like in Hwange. Animals here are now used to the vegetation, hence any disturbance is likely to have an effect on eating habits of animals resulting in them migrating,” he said.


Villages in the vicinity of the mine site include Kana Block, Mazwa, Hangano and Chimwara.
A safari operator in the area said: “We are not sure of how far the mine would stretch as we are getting conflicting reports. Two weeks ago Liberation Mine officials told us that they are taking up about 6 500 hectares, but on Monday it emerged during a meeting that 16 545 hectares is under the mining concession.


“Now some safari operators would have their revenue affected as animals are expected to flee the area due to noise from the mine. We need explanations.”


Safari operators say they average US$100 000 in earnings per hunting season which lasts three months.
A stakeholders’ meeting, that would involve safari operators, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Bulawayo chapter Affirmative Action Group (AAG), Bulawayo City Council and government is on the cards to discuss the issue.


Liberation Mining’s Hangano concession covers a total of 16 545 hectares with coal reserves estimated to be 1, 5 billion tonnes with a lifespan of between 15 to 20 years of open-cast mining.


Liberation Mine has set a US$100 million budget for mining coal in Gwayi and its South African partners, LontohCoal, have already released US$2 million for the project.
The company expects to start mining by year-end and go full throttle during the first quarter of 2011.
The mine is targeting producing 100 000 tonnes of coal monthly.


A Liberation Mine spokesman yesterday confirmed that they were yet to get an environmental assessment impact certificate although workers were already on the ground.
“On the environmental assessment impact, that is work in progress as our consultants are currently on site,” the spokesman said.


“We expect the report to be out in two weeks time, but now we are conducting exploration drilling, taking out samples of the product.”
He said concerns on the potential of the project to affect the Gwayi-Shangani water project would be clarified by the report.


LontohCoal, which says it plans to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange by November, is a specialist mining exploration finance company with investments in coal, gold, iron ore, nickel and platinum.


National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority director-general Vitalis Chatenga could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press last night.


Water Resources Minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo told the Zimbabwe Independent yesterday that he would engage the Mines ministry over the project’s potential effect on the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project.



Nqobile Bhebhe

Yawn....the EIA for these desposits was done in 1996...it has been on the cards for for a few years before that after the deposits were discovered...so they have had roughly 20 years grace or to put in complaints or just dig out the EIA done in co-operation between parks, Water development and WWF and they will see all the mitigation factors that were insisted upon and built into the project to limit environmental danage.

Coal mining is nothing new in Zim ... but it sounds like this project may be a strip mine ... that can be quite ugly if you don't put the topsoil back. These days, that's standard practice though. I don't see where the benzene comes from ... there is nothing in the coal mining process that uses benzene.

The real wildlife issue in Zim is resettlement, not a small patch of coal mining.

Does this sound like something that could provide jobs?

DOJ - Don't mention this to Obama!!

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
Does this sound like something that could provide jobs?

The whole project, If implimented would provide
X million tonnes coal annualy, Enough Electricity from the methane powered thermal station to sell the surpluss to SA. Enough diesel to run SADAC and enough water as a 'waste' product from the electricity generation to irrigate 10,000ha. Yes it will be messy...not to bad if done right...compared to the short term cost to hunting while pipelines are laid etc...it is a good deal...especially as it ensures that the area cannot be given over to 'other uses' and it would remain a wildlife area above ground at any rate.

Wasn't all of the Gwayi Conservancy property siezed by the Zim govt for war vets?

I gazed into my crystal ball on this and when the mists cleared, I saw my Welsh wizard and soothsaying friend complete with pointy hat and long stick, who with the aid of his mate Mr H Potter esq and his owl Hedwig, sent me the following message:

"Steve,

I note with some interest the thread on AR re a mining project in Zim where it says that it is for coalbed methane.To the best of my knowledge, the extraction of coalbed methane does not involve conventional mining with pits, shafts or opencast but holes are drilled down into the bed and steam is injected.

This generates gas which is then purified and used for fuel. You will be aware that Firedamp
(mainly methane) is usually found in mines and this process is an extension of this. Indeed this sort of project has been proposed for the area around Swansea Bay with few objections as the plant necessary is relatively small and has little environmental impact.

The Zim project is obviously a strip or opencast mine and the residents are quite rightly concerned. I am not aware of the use of benzene, unless it is generated in the purification process. Very nasty stuff, benzene, proscribed in UK and Europe and a known carciinogen causing leukemia.

Sounds to me as if sheep coats are being pulled over ocular organs!".