An Environmental Impact Assessment of the Two Possible Routes for the Proposed Magnetite Slurry Pipeline Between Phalaborwa and Maputo
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An Environmental Impact Assessment of the two possible routes for the proposed magnetite slurry pipeline between Phalaborwa and Maputo by ILZE UECKERMANN MINI DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF ARTS in GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT in the FACULTY OF ARTS at the RAND AFRIKAANS UNIVERSITY SUPERVISOR: PROF. J.T. HARMSE OCTOBER 1998 OPSOMMING An Environmental Impact Assessment of the two possible routes for the proposed magnetite slurry pipeline between Phalaborwa and Maputo Student: Ilze Ueckermann Studieleier: Prof. J.T. Harmse Die studie in verband met die plasing van 'n magnetiet pyplyn tussen Phalaborwa en Maputo, is gemotiveer omdat hierdie plasing 'n defnitiewe uitwerking op die omgewing sal he. Sedert die vroee 1970's het die omgewing en enige negatiewe uitwerking op die omgewing, 'n groter uitwerking op die mens gehad. Dit was omdat die mense meer bewus geraak het van die feit dat by afhanklik van sy omgewing is vir oorlewing. Met die nuwe omgewingswetgewing is die voltooiing van 'n Omgewings Inpak Studie (O.I.S) verpligtend voordat ontwikkeling mag plaasvind. Wat is Omgewings Inpak Studies? Omgewing Inpak Studies is die aksie wat uitgevoer moet word om die positiewe en negatiewe inpakte van ontwikkeling op die omgewing te identifiseer. Met ander woorde alle inpakte word geidentifiseer, en die roete met die kleinste omgewings inpak sal dan eerder gevolg word. Omgewings Inpak Studies is 'n metode om die verskillende inpakte op die omgewing te identifiseer sodat alternatiewe aksies voorgestel kan word. Op hierdie wyse word die meer negatiewe aksies verminder. Dit is 'n metode om 'n probleem te evalueer sodat 'n reaksie op die probleem geformuleer kan word. In die gaval van die navorsing, is die probleem die plasing van 'n magnetiet pyplyn tussen Phalaborwa en Maputo. Die reaksie op die probleem is om alle aspekte te oorweeg (byvoorbeeld ekonomies, sosiaal, ensovoorts) en dan die beste alternatief te volg. ABSTRACT An Environmental Impact Assessment of the two possible routes for the proposed magnetite slurry pipeline between Phalaborwa and Maputo Student: Ilze Ueckermann Supervisor: Prof. J.T. Harmse The study of the two possible routes for the magnetite slurry pipeline between Phalaborwa and Maputo was motivated because of the impact it can have on the environment. Since the early 1970's the environment has become more and more important to the people that live in it. By law any development should by forgone by an Environmental Impact Assessment, and for that reason this study was undertaken. Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A.) measures impacts of one or more environmental indicators on the environment. Further more an Environmental Impact Assessment means a national procedure for evaluating the likely impact of a proposed activity on the environment. It is thus a tool used to minimise the impacts of human development on the environment. This tool will be used to compare the two routes and to identify the route with less Environmental Impact. Within the growing field of environmental science and engineering, there is increasing interest in and use of Environmental Assessment (EA). In this form of assessment, the experts evaluate the probable impact of a range of alternative actions that have been proposed in response to a problem, in this case the placing of a pipeline from Phalaborwa to Maputo. Environmental Impacts may be considered in light of economic, social, or security constraints; hence the lightest impact is not necessarily always chosen by planners. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY 3 SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION 5 3.1. Phalaborwa 6 3.2. Kruger National Park 7 3.3. Kaapmuiden 8 3.4. Maputo 12 THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 14 4.1. Relief 14 4.2 Climate 15 4.3 Soil 17 4.4 Surface Water 21 IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT 25 MITIGATORY ACTIONS 32 CONCLUSION 36 REFERENCES 38 1. INTRODUCTION In 1996 it was decided to construct a pipeline to transport magnetite from Phalaborwa in the Northern Province of South Africa, to Maputo, in Mozambique. A study to investigate the impact of such a development on the environment of the Kruger National Park and surroundings was motivated because it is a legal requirement that all construction projects of such magnitude must have an Environmental Impact Assessment study undertaken. The question that comes to mind is whether the environmental impact of these activities will be negative or positive. Using Environmental Impact Assessment as a tool it is possible to evaluate the development of an area as well as the impact thereof on the environment (Sadler, 1994). The two possible actions, development and conservation, must be balanced against each other (Ghai, 1992; Boswell, 1996). Sometimes it is necessary to develop, but such development must take place in a way that the environment will be negatively affected the least. Magnetite is an iron ore which is produced as a by-product of the mining process at Phalaborwa. During the process approximately seven million tons of magnetite is produced per year, and over a 30 year period it has accumulated to a reserve of 210 million tons. It was decided during 1996 that the magnetite, that can be used for the production of iron, would be reclaimed from the stockpiles at Phalaborwa (GIBB Africa, 1997). This option has been previously investigated, but an economically viable option was never to realise. The idea was that the magnetite would be transferred to a magnetite preparation plant where it would then be milled to a very fine powder, and purified. The magnetite would then be transferred by slurry pipeline to the iron production plant (Alberta Round Table on Environment and Economy, 1993). The investigation of Maputo (in Mozambique) as a location for the iron preparation plant was motivated by the idea to enrich the Southern African region. Another motivation for the location was the nearby situated Pande gas fields. These gas fields were discovered in 1961, but they were never developed because of the civil war that raged in Mozambique at that stage. Enron (an American energy company) has since obtained a concession to develop these gas fields and they need a project to justify the cost of the development of the gas fields (GIBB Africa, 1997). Magnetite can be converted in two ways to iron, by using either coal or gas as a source of energy, and the combination of the natural gas and magnetite to produce iron was found to be feasible option. 1 Since the early 1970's the environment has become more of an issue to the people that live in it (Biswas & Agrawala, 1992). The first step is to define the concept "environment". What is included when you refer to the environment that will be affected by the pipeline (Cooper, 1997)? The meaning of the term "environment" will differ from person to person on one's view of the environment (Riha, Leviton & Hutson, 1997). In this study the term environment will include all physical, natural, social and economical aspects (Berkes & Folke, 1992; Fuggle & Rabie, 1992). The study of the two possible routes for the magnetite slurry pipeline between Phalaborwa and Maputo was motivated because of the impact each can have on the environment. In the study it will be necessary to compare the two routes with each other. The comparison is aimed at evaluating the Kruger Direct Route (the route directly through the Kruger National Park) and the Kaapmuiden Route (the route south circumventing the Kruger National Park). Which one of these two routes is more suitable and has a smaller environmental impact on the surrounding environment? In theory the route with the least impact will be preferred for the construction of the pipeline. Environmental Impact Assessment measures impacts of one or more environmental indicators on the environment. Furthermore, an Environmental Impact Assessment entails a national procedure for evaluating the likely impact of the proposed activity on the environment (Westman, 1985). The documentation of the state of environment is partly a description of the structure of nature because it has central relevance in respect of the tolerance of nature and the impact on nature caused by human activities. With the Environmental Impact Assessment of the different routes the impact of the two routes will be studied and mitigation of impacts will be suggested (Alberti & Parker, 1991; Corson, 1994). The study of the state of environment along the different routes will be investigated from the point of view of the tolerance of nature and the pressure caused by human activities (stress). The general aim of the Environmental Impact Assessment is to create a basis from which to achieve a better environment, better and more efficient utilisation of resources, and sustainable development (Victor, 1991; Gosselin, 1993). The question that comes to mind is whether the pipeline through the Kruger National Park will be sustainable for future generations (Riha, Leviton & Hutson, 1997). These and other questions will be answered in the study. 2 2. AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY The aim of the study will be to compare the two different routes with each other. With the comparison the author will try to prove that the Kruger Direct Route (KDR) will have a severe impact on the environment while the Kaapmuiden Route (KR) will have less. The tool or method that will be used to compare the routes is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The objective of Environmental Impact Assessment is to identify the negative impacts and to outline mitigation procedures so that these impacts will be minimised or avoided. Sustainable development is an approach to development and addresses the fundamental concerns of poverty, environment, equality and democracy (UNCED, 1992). Although it may appear intuitive that meeting the basic needs of poor communities holds the promise of eliminating many of the types of situations which favour the outbreak of conflict, in many cases development can be shown to contribute to or benefit from the existence or possibility of armed conflicts (Kaplan, 1995, p.viii).