| Wed 20 May 2009, 13:30 | | CZA - CoAL - Submission of Vele Project Environmental Impact Assessment and |
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CZA
CZA
CZA - CoAL - Submission of Vele Project Environmental Impact Assessment and
Management Programme
Coal of Africa Limited
(previously, "GVM Metals Limited")
(Incorporated and registered in Australia)
(Registration number ABN 008 905 388)
Share code on the JSE Limited: CZA
ISIN AU000000CZA6
Share code on the Australian Stock Exchange Limited: CZA
ISIN AU000000CZA6
(`CoAL` or `the Company`)
20 May 2009
SUBMISSION OF VELE PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
PROGRAMME
Coal of Africa Limited ("CoAL" or "Company"), the AIM/ASX/JSE listed coal
development company operating in South Africa (ticker: CZA), is pleased to
announce that, as part of its application for a New Order Mining Right for the
Vele Colliery Project ("Vele Project"), a comprehensive Environmental Impact
Assessment ("EIA") and Environmental Management Programme ("EMP") was submitted
to the Department of Minerals and Energy ("DME") on 15 May 2009. CoAL has
committed to spending R500 million over thirty years to ensure the highest
levels of environmental and social performance.
The EIA and EMP process was managed by Jacana Environmentals cc in partnership
with Naledi Development Restructured (Pty) Ltd, both highly qualified
environmental / social practitioners. The environmental and social assessment
process included a scoping phase, detail impact assessments by independent
specialists and extensive stakeholder consultation. In addition to complying
with national regulations, the process also considered international best
practices. Furthermore, the 2,000 page document included numerous independent
expert reports covering impact assessments on the following areas:
1. Soil survey, land use, sensitive landscapes and land capability;
2. Biodiversity;
3. Surface water;
4. Groundwater;
5. Air quality;
6. Noise;
7. Heritage;
8. Paleontology;
9. Visual;
10.Blasting;
Socio economic; and
Macroeconomic.
The DME will be responsible for forwarding the EIA / EMP report and specialist
reports to the relevant South African government departments for comment. A
notification has also been sent to all registered interested and affected
parties informing them of the availability of the documents on the Company`s
website and at specific locations, and requesting their comments within the next
60 days.
Commenting on CoAL`s commitment to a sustainable environment and co-existence
with the communities and existing land uses and conservation initiatives, Riaan
van der Merwe, CoAL`s Chief Operating Officer, said:
"In addition to the significant investment required to develop the mine whilst
simultaneously minimising environmental impacts such as water management
infrastructure, cladding of stockpiles, tarring of access road, etc, an amount
in excess of R18million is committed per annum and will include:
- rehabilitation & revegetation;
- offset biodiversity programmes;
- dust suppression;
- rescue & relocation operations for protected fauna & flora species;
- staff to oversee the indigenous nursery and the rehabilitation, and
specialists to assist with rescue operation / revegetation programme;
- environmental monitoring & auditing."
In the region of R1 million will be spent on heritage resources. An
archaeologist and paleontologist will be employed on a retainer basis to monitor
any new excavations for archaeological and/or paleontological artifacts. A
further R160 million has been committed over the first five years for skills
development, infrastructure development and community services.
"The macro-economic impacts emanating from the proposed mine will be
significant: it has the potential to create over 28,000 direct and indirect
jobs, which in the context of one of the poorer provinces in South Africa is a
critical consideration. The potential exports generated from the mine, together
with the possible reduction in the need for South African companies to import
coking coal, will also have a substantial affect on South Africa`s balance of
payments," van der Merwe continued.
Despite recent media reports to the contrary, the proposed Vele Project is not
located within the Mapungubwe National Park (which houses the World Heritage
Site of Mapungubwe Hill), the Transfrontier Conservancy Area (TFCA) project or
their associated buffer zones. This has been confirmed by representatives from
the TFCA, SANParks and the Department of Environment and Tourism and referencing
published maps on these organisations websites.
The Vele Project will be located approximately 48km west of Musina, adjacent to
existing intensive agriculture on the Limpopo River bordering Zimbabwe.
The EIA/EMP report and specialist reports are available from
www.coalofafrica.com from 21 May 2009.
Yours sincerely
SIMON J FARRELL
Managing Director
For more information contact:
Simon Farrell, Managing Director
CZA
+61 417 985 383 or +618 9322 6776
Simon Edwards/ Chris Sim
Evolution Securities
+44(0) 20 7071 4300
Jos Simson/ Gareth Tredway
Conduit PR
+44(0) 20 7429 6603
About CoAL:
Coal of Africa Limited ("CoAL") is primarily focused on the acquisition,
exploration and development of thermal and metallurgical coal projects. The
Company`s key projects, along with its leading metals processing company NiMag
Group (Pty) Ltd are in South Africa. The Company was incorporated in Western
Australia and listed in 1980. Since 2005, the Company has also listed on both
the AIM and JSE markets, allowing further growth in the Company`s coal assets.
www.coalofafrica.com
Sponsor
PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance (Pty) Ltd
Date: 20/05/2009 13:30:01 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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