Proposed Open Pit Magnetite Mine and Concentrator Plant, Mokopane, Limpopo Province
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Proposed Open Pit Magnetite Mine and Concentrator Plant, Mokopane, Limpopo Province Social Impact Assessment Project Number: VMC3049 Prepared for: Pamish Investments No. 39 (Pty) Ltd July 2015 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Digby Wells and Associates (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (Subsidiary of Digby Wells & Associates (Pty) Ltd). Co. Reg. No. 2010/008577/07. Turnberry Office Park, 48 Grosvenor Road, Bryanston, 2191. Private Bag X10046, Randburg, 2125, South Africa Tel: +27 11 789 9495, Fax: +27 11 789 9498, [email protected], www.digbywells.com _______________________________________________________________________________________ Directors: DJ Otto, GB Beringer, LF Koeslag, AJ Reynolds (Chairman) (British)*, J Leaver*, GE Trusler (C.E.O) *Non-Executive _______________________________________________________________________________________ This document has been prepared by Digby Wells Environmental. Report Type: Social Impact Assessment Proposed Open Pit Magnetite Mine and Concentrator Plant, Project Name: Mokopane, Limpopo Province Project Code: VMC3049 Name Responsibility Signature Date Jurie Erwee Report Writer 23 June 2015 Jan Perold Reviewer 24 June 2015 This report is provided solely for the purposes set out in it and may not, in whole or in part, be used for any other purpose without Digby Wells Environmental prior written consent. Digby Wells Environmental ii Social Impact Assessment Proposed Open Pit Magnetite Mine and Concentrator Plant, Mokopane, Limpopo Province VMC3049 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This document presents the results of the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) for Pamish Investments (Pty) Ltd proposed Open Pit Magnetite Mine and Concentrator Plant near the town of Mokopane in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The aims of this report, as stated in the terms of reference (ToR), are: ■ To describe the baseline social environment of the proposed project site and surrounding area; ■ To identify, describe and determine the likely significance of potential social impacts that may arise as a result of the proposed project; ■ To recommend practical and cost-effective mitigation measures to minimise or avoid negative impacts, and enhancement measures to optimise the potential positive impacts of the proposed project; and ■ To compile a social management plan, that defines practical steps for implementing the recommended mitigation measures. Methodology The study was designed to comply with the relevant national legislative requirements, such as those stipulated in National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) and Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002). The following activities were undertaken as part of the impact assessment: ■ Defining the site-specific, local and regional study areas; ■ Data collection, including a desktop review, investigative site visit, interviews with key informants, socio-economic household survey, and a review of information from other specialist studies and the public participation process; ■ Social sensitivity mapping, which involved classifying land uses within the vicinity of the project in terms of their likely sensitivity to social impacts caused by the project; ■ The compilation of a baseline profile, including information on demographics, education, skills levels, employment, local and regional economic conditions, infrastructure and service delivery, community needs and challenges, and spatial development and land use activities. Prevalent concerns regarding, and attitudes towards, the proposed project are also reported; ■ Assessment of impacts (including impacts of various project alternatives and cumulative impacts) on the basis of issues identified through the public participation process, interviews with key informants and specialist opinion. Identified impacts were categorised in terms of the project phase in which it is most likely to originate, namely the construction, operational or decommissioning phases; Digby Wells Environmental 3 Social Impact Assessment Proposed Open Pit Magnetite Mine and Concentrator Plant, Mokopane, Limpopo Province VMC3049 ■ Rating of impacts in terms of their anticipated duration, extent, intensity and probability. Duration, extent and intensity ratings were combined into a measure of an impact’s expected consequence. Consequence ratings, in turn, were multiplied with probability ratings to give a measure of an impact’s overall significance; ■ Identification of appropriate mitigation measures to avoid or ameliorate negative social impacts and to enhance positive ones. The rating procedure described above was then repeated to assess the expected consequence, probability and significance of each impact after mitigation. This post-mitigation rating gives an indication of the significance of residual impacts, while the difference between an impact’s pre-and post-mitigation ratings therefore represents the degree to which the recommended mitigation measures are expected to be effective in reducing or ameliorating that impact. Mitigation and enhancement measures were incorporated into a social management plan, which outlines steps for implementing these measures; and ■ Formulating recommendations regarding the identified mitigation and enhancement measures, as well as other general recommendations that may aid the successful implementation of the proposed project. Baseline Socio-Economic Profile The table below provides a summary of the baseline profile of study area in which the proposed mine is to be situated; it highlights features and trends within the respective study areas that might have relevance for Pamish in terms of possible opportunities/ benefits and constraints/ challenges. Digby Wells Environmental 4 Social Impact Assessment Proposed Open Pit Magnetite Mine and Concentrator Plant, Mokopane, Limpopo Province VMC3049 Summary of Socio-Economic Baseline Profile Socio-economic attribute Supporting data Relevance to the project Opportunities and Benefits National Development Plan, Accelerated and From a development Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa, perspective the project is in Industrial Policy Action Plan, New Economic Pamish will be able to garner legitimate support from National, Provincial and line with National, Regional Growth Path, Limpopo Development Plan, Local Government for the proposed project as it is in line with their and Local Development Waterberg District’s Local Economic development trajectory. planning Development Plan (LED), and Mogalakwena Local Municipality (MLM) LED Provincial and Local Opportunity for Pamish to align socio-economic development programmes development plans are in Local and District municipal Integrated contained in future iterations of their Social and Labour Plan (SLP) with place; however on a district Development Plans (IDP) are readily available existing development plans; this will increase sustainability and relevance of level no up to date LED Plan as well as LED Plans for MLM and the Province initiatives. is available District and Local Municipal Spatial Several large mining Development Frameworks (SDFs); Field Opportunity to synergise any LED as part of the SLP with existing initiatives operations are located within investigations; investigation of available spatial of other mines the local study area data Only 14% of the MLM and 20% of the local Opportunity for Pamish to contribute to community development through skills Most people within the local study area have completed secondary school; development programmes during construction and operational phases; and site-specific study area those within the more rural outskirts of these however, low education levels usually have negative implications for the only have a relatively basic study areas tend to have even lower levels of employment potential of the population and also for the feasibility of LED skill level education; findings from the household survey initiatives. Digby Wells Environmental 5 Social Impact Assessment Proposed Open Pit Magnetite Mine and Concentrator Plant, Mokopane, Limpopo Province VMC3049 Socio-economic attribute Supporting data Relevance to the project Mining and quarrying sector employed a Mining is one of the dominant considerable number of people in the MLM; Procurement could potentially be from suppliers located within the MLM who economic sectors in the MLM Mining is one of the primary contributors to the are currently servicing mines in the area Municipal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 32% The youth comprises a large proportion of the population within the regional, local and site- Pamish can likely meet any local recruitment targets for un-and semi-skilled Large potential labour force specific study area; high unemployment, positions especially among rural households; findings from the household survey Field investigations, findings from the household survey and MLM IDP: Rural households within the local study area mostly rely on pit toilets for sanitation Provides opportunities to make a significant contribution to local development purposes; Surrounding communities as part of LED and Corporate Social Investment (CSI) (but may also hinder Clinics in the surrounding towns is often have limited access to public the productivity of the local workforce). In this regard Pamish could short staffed; infrastructure collaborate with existing municipal SLP and LED forums as well as the Most rural roads are deteriorated; Bakenberg Traditional Authority (TA). Housing shortages is noted for the regional study