Australian company Coal of Africa Limited has been granted a license to mine near the Mapungubwe World Heritage site in Limpopo, South Africa. The company signed a deal on Thursday with the department of environmental affairs and South African National Parks (SANParks).
The Vele coal mine is just seven kilometres away from the Mapungubwe site and the company has promised that it would be maintained by comprehensive biodiversity offset programs, thereby optimizing benefits to local communities.
Buyelwa Sonjica, the former minister of environment was opposed to the mine. Raids launched by the Green Scorpions on Vele had found a number of environmental transgressions leading to criticism from SANParks as well. The chief executive officer of Coal of Africa Ltd, John Wallington said at the signing that the company had gone through fundamental changes in the last year.
Mr Wallington said that they had got new leadership. They had gone from a junior prospecting company to a full-blown mining company that now has the know-ledge and skills to mine Vele in a sustainable way. He said for them, conservation was a natural resource to be used.
Hector Magome, director of SANParks said for his organization conservation meant the holistic and wise use of natural resources. Some see conservation as a holy cow, that it should not be touched, said Mr Magome. The bio-sensitive area is thought to have deposits of high-quality coking coal that might be mined for up to 25 years.
Fundisile Mketeni, deputy director general of biodiversity and conservation, said that there had been a flood of applications to mine the area around Mapungubwe and the department would have to engage other applicants about an environmental strategy. He said they needed to bite a bullet and make a decision in terms of the area.