(1)(a) Yes, the Department is aware of an application to mine coal in Marloth Park next to the Kruger National Park.
(b) The assessment of the Environmental Impact Assessment is currently being conducted in terms of the requirements of the National Environmental Management Act and its Regulations. The assessment has not yet been finalised.
- The Department learned of the application on the 19!h July 2018, which is the date when both the Mining Right Application in terms of section 22(1) of the MPRDA and the Environmental Authorization were lodged in terms of the EIA Regulations.
- Yes, the copy of the EIA will be made available upon request.
- The Department will not initiate an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as this is the requirement that must be satisfied by the applicant. The Department is required and currently undertaking an assessment of the submitted EIA in terms of the NEMA Act and Regulations
- It is difficult for the Department to answer this question since the name of the person under this enquiry and the mining corporation she/he is said to be an executive has not been revealed.
- It is again difficult for the Department to properly reply to the question since the name of the person under this enquiry and the mining corporation she/he is said to be an executive has not been revealed. This makes further investigations into the matter an impossibility.
- The Minister will not be making a statement in this regard