Xolobeni mining in nations interests: Sonjica
By Michael Hamlyn, I-Net Bridge
Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica eased aside comments from the environment department in favour of ’the national interest’ when making up her mind to grant the mining right application for the Xolobeni sand project.
She told Parliament in answer to a written question circulated that she concluded the dune mining operation 30km south of Port Edward in the Eastern Cape was of national interest, and granting the right would substantially expand opportunities for the historically disadvantaged communities to benefit from exploitation of the mineral resources and would promote economic growth.
Her answer said that when she considered the department of environmental affairs and tourism’s comments, she “broadly interrogated the definition of environment as defined in the National Environmental Management Act”.
She arrived at a decision to grant considering the non-existent and depressed economy of the area, and the social-economic baseline which involved a huge need for poverty alleviation.
She added that she also considered the environmental degradation over which plans to rehabilitate have been made and financially provided for.
Environmental groups argue that ecotourism would be a more sustainable way of creating jobs and wealth in the area.
The groups claim that, should mining take place, the 22km stretch will effectively have to be taken off the tourist map, as tourists will not like to trek through an area being mined.
Between 13 million tons and 15 million tons of minerals are expected to be mined a year. And a mining study concluded that the Xolobeni mineral sands deposit is economically viable, with a mine life of some 22 years, producing each year some 250,000 of ilmenite, 19,000 tons of rutile, 15,000 tons of zircon, and 15,000 tons of leucoxene.
The project is being developed by Transworld Energy & Minerals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Australian mining junior Mineral Commodities. The project will cost an estimated 1.8 billion rand to implement.
Posted on October 28th, 2008
Filed under: Articles
Oh no! This is terrible news. For the sake of both the people of the surrounding area as well as the environment, the Xolobeni mining project must be stopped. What recourse is still open to the local community? Can it not be demonstrated conclusively that a proper process was not followed? Is the Minister empowered to trample underfoot the wishes of the local community and their longterm interests? How poignantly this sad situation highlights the pernicious product of collusion between an unscrupulous, self-seeking political elite and a callous, uncaring capitalist class. What will it take to stop this?