Sierra Rutile Project Area 1 – Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment: Mine Closure Plan Report Prepared for Sierra Rutile Limited Report Number: 515234/ Mine Closure Plan Report Prepared by March 2018 SRK Consulting: Project No: 515234/Closure Page i Sierra Rutile Project Area 1 – Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment: Mine Closure Plan Sierra Rutile Limited SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd 265 Oxford Rd Illovo 2196 Johannesburg South Africa e-mail: [email protected] website: www.srk.co.za Tel: +27 (0) 11 441 1111 Fax: +27 (0) 11 880 8086 SRK Project Number 515234/ Mine Closure Plan March 2018 Compiled by: Reviewed by: James Lake, Pr Sci Nat Marius Van Huyssteen, CEAPSA Principal Scientist Principal Scientist/Associate Partner Email: [email protected] Authors: Fran Lake, James Lake LAKJ/vhuy 515234_Area 1_ MCP_Rep_Final_201803 March 2018 SRK Consulting: Project No: 515234/Closure Page ii Table of Contents Disclaimer .............................................................................................................................................. v List of abbreviations ............................................................................................................................... vi 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose of this report ....................................................................................................................... 1 2 Project overview ........................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Land description and tenure ............................................................................................................. 3 2.2 Regulatory approvals........................................................................................................................ 3 2.3 Site activities .................................................................................................................................... 4 2.3.1 SRL mining history ............................................................................................................. 4 2.3.2 SRL mining product ............................................................................................................ 5 2.3.3 Current mining operation .................................................................................................... 5 2.3.4 Mineral processing ........................................................................................................... 13 2.3.5 Nitti Port ........................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.6 Roads ............................................................................................................................... 17 2.3.7 Electricity and power supply .............................................................................................. 17 2.3.8 Potable water supply ........................................................................................................ 18 2.3.9 Mine camps, buildings and other facilities ......................................................................... 18 2.3.10 Waste management.......................................................................................................... 18 2.4 Current workforce ........................................................................................................................... 18 2.5 Progressive rehabilitation status ..................................................................................................... 20 3 Closure obligations and commitments .................................................................... 21 3.1 Legal and other obligations ............................................................................................................. 21 3.1.1 Legislation ........................................................................................................................ 21 3.1.2 International environmental and social principles, policies and standards .......................... 23 3.1.3 Constructive obligations .................................................................................................... 24 3.1.4 Obligations arising from ESIA and ESMP .......................................................................... 25 4 Project environmental and social aspects ............................................................... 26 4.1 Climate and meteorology ................................................................................................................ 26 4.2 Topography and geology ................................................................................................................ 26 4.2.1 Topography ...................................................................................................................... 26 4.2.2 Geology ............................................................................................................................ 27 4.3 Soils quality .................................................................................................................................... 27 4.4 Geochemistry ................................................................................................................................. 29 4.5 Radiation ........................................................................................................................................ 30 4.6 Hydrology ....................................................................................................................................... 31 4.7 Hydrogeology ................................................................................................................................. 32 4.8 Land use capability ......................................................................................................................... 33 4.9 Air quality ....................................................................................................................................... 33 4.10 Terrestrial, aquatic and wetland biodiversity ................................................................................. 33 LAKJ/vhuy 515234_Area 1_ MCP_Rep_Final_201803 March 2018 SRK Consulting: Project No: 515234/Closure Page iii 4.10.1 Regional biodiversity setting ............................................................................................. 33 4.11 Socio economic ........................................................................................................................... 36 4.12 Community health environment .................................................................................................... 38 5 Stakeholder concerns relating to closure ................................................................ 40 6 Post closure land use and closure objectives ......................................................... 46 6.1 Post closure land use ..................................................................................................................... 46 6.2 Closure objectives .......................................................................................................................... 50 7 Land forms .................................................................................................................. 51 8 Risk assessment and management of closure issues ............................................ 53 8.1 Risk assessment ............................................................................................................................ 53 8.2 Closure management ..................................................................................................................... 57 8.2.1 Vegetation establishment .................................................................................................. 57 8.2.2 Wet mining, primary and secondary processing infrastructure and all ancillary infrastructure .................................................................................................................... 57 8.2.3 Roads, laydowns and parking areas ................................................................................. 59 8.2.4 Borrow pits ....................................................................................................................... 60 8.2.5 Dredge canal .................................................................................................................... 60 8.2.6 Mining and tailings ponds ................................................................................................. 61 8.2.7 Dry mining pits .................................................................................................................. 62 8.2.8 Sand tailings ..................................................................................................................... 63 8.2.9 Slimes .............................................................................................................................. 64 8.2.10 Co-disposed Tailings ........................................................................................................ 65 8.2.11 MSP tailings and stockpiles .............................................................................................. 66 8.2.12 Waste management facilities ...........................................................................................