{"id":4530,"date":"2016-07-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-19T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amabhungane.org\/amabhungane\/stories\/west-coast-dune-mining-is-the-tide-turning-on-tormin\/"},"modified":"2016-07-19T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-07-19T00:00:00","slug":"west-coast-dune-mining-is-the-tide-turning-on-tormin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/west-coast-dune-mining-is-the-tide-turning-on-tormin\/","title":{"rendered":"West Coast dune mining \u2013 is the tide turning on Tormin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Picture: Aerial view of Tormin mine on the West Coast,\u00a0Tormin promotional video.<\/em><\/p>\n

In a sign that the official tide may be turning against the Tormin dune mine on the West Coast, the national environmental affairs department has launched an investigation of the mine\u2019s controversial environmental practices.<\/p>\n

The above is revealed in a letter by Environment Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, which says Tormin\u2019s conduct \u201cis allegedly causing significant impacts to the coastal environment and affecting the nearby community\u201d.<\/p>\n

The company generally declines to react to criticism. However, when contacted for comment on the latest developments, the company\u2019s public relations consultant, Anne Dunn, said: \u201cThe allegations are false. Tormin \u2026 operates within the regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n

And in another blow to the mine, the department of mineral affairs (DMR) has rejected its application to extend its prospecting activities by more than 20km along the coastline, citing environmental transgressions.<\/p>\n

The company has appealed against the decision.<\/p>\n

“Catastrophic”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Australia-owned Tormin mine, close to the town of Vredendal, has repeatedly been accused of flouting labour and environmental laws, including expanding the mine without permission, mining in conservation areas, extracting garnet in breach of the environmental management plan, and causing a \u201ccatastrophic\u201d cliff collapse.<\/p>\n

In the past, environmentalists have complained that the DMR has failed to act on a string of objections and a formal appeal. The department took over environmental enforcement in the mining sector from environmental affairs last year.<\/p>\n

Tormin is owned by Australia-listed Mineral Sand Resources (MSR), whose South African subsidiary is also locked in a battle over proposed dune mining with the Xolobeni community on the Wild Coast.<\/p>\n

In a letter to the Cape Town-based Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) in May this year, which amaBhungane has seen, Molewa reveals that Western Cape MEC Anton Bredell has referred the allegations against Tormin to the national environmental affairs department, which is taking them \u201cvery seriously\u201d.<\/p>\n

She adds that the department \u201chas already commenced an investigation into the matter, which will include engaging with the department of mineral resources\u201d.<\/p>\n

Environment department spokesperson Albi Modise said that based on complaints received, the authorities have made preliminary findings on whether Tormin has complied with the environmental authorisation it received in July 2012. He did not give details.<\/p>\n

However, he was at pains to point out that DMR is the lead department. The environmental authorities are \u201cdiscussing the way forward\u201d with the DMR; their role \u201cwould be to support any intervention by DMR if required\u201d.<\/p>\n

“Sensitive”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Last year the head of the CER\u2019s mining section, Catherine Horsfield, called on Bredell to issue a coastal protection notice to the company prohibiting further mining in the \u201csensitive\u201d area around Tormin.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, Horsfield suggested a postponement of mining so that the impact of mining activities could be probed in terms of the National Environmental Management Act.<\/p>\n

Horsfield said the mine has been the subject of numerous complaints by community members.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is ongoing concern regarding environmental degradation \u2026 including \u2026 that the cliff face is collapsing and that MSR expanded its operations significantly without any assessment of the environmental impacts,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn various correspondence made available to us, it is clear that the findings of provincial environmental affairs department found that Tormin unlawfully expanded the area used by its processing plant without environmental authorisation.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the time, the DMR disputed these findings. Horsfield cited a letter from a DMR official dated 21 May last year arguing that the company\u2019s five-year environmental authorisation was still valid and that it did not require additional permission to expand its footprint.<\/p>\n

She said this interpretation of the law was \u201cpatently incorrect\u201d.<\/p>\n

However, the DMR\u2019s refusal to extend Tormin\u2019s prospecting area suggests there has been a rethink \u2013 perhaps following its engagement with the environmental authorities.<\/p>\n

“Not satisfied”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In a letter to the company dated June 1, the department\u2019s Western Cape regional manager, Duduzile Kunene, says she is \u201cnot satisfied\u201d with the way the environmental impact assessment and the public participation process were handled.<\/p>\n

She complains that:<\/p>\n