Proposed Expansion For Rössing Uranium Mine, Namibia
Rössing Uranium (RU) has operated an open pit uranium mine in the Erongo Region of Namibia since 1976. As a result of an increase in uranium prices on the international market in recent years, RU is able to consider the possible financial benefit from an expansion of its operations.
The anticipated closure date of the Rössing uranium mine is consequently being re-evaluated in terms of overall feasibility, i.e. including social and environmental criteria.
The maximum extent of the envisaged expansion would entail, in summary, an increase in size of the current mining pit known as SJ, the opening of new mining areas, with concomitant new disposal areas for waste rock, new or expanded processing plants, additional tailings dam capacity, and an increase in staff numbers and facilities. In terms of the Namibian Constitution and related environmental legislation, in particular the Environmental Management Act, the Environmental Assessment Policy and the Minerals Act, the proposed expansion activity would require authorisation from the responsible authorities before it can be undertaken. A Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) has thus been commissioned by RU for their proposed expansion project.
The Scoping stage is complete and the SEIA is currently in the assessment stage, which will culminate in a comprehensive document, the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) Report.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The entire extent of the envisaged expansion of the Rössing mine would comprise, in summary, nine individual components. These are being dealt with in two phases of the SEIA process, as follows:
PHASE 1
- A sulphuric acid manufacturing plant with associated sulphur storage on the mine, and the transport of sulphur from the Port of Walvis Bay;
- A radiometric ore sorter plant; and
- Mining of an ore body known as SK4.
PHASE 2
- Sulphur handling in the Port of Walvis Bay (Phase 2a);
- Establishing an acid heap leaching facility;
- Extension of the current mining activities in the existing SJ open pit;
- Increased waste rock disposal capacity;
- Increased tailings disposal capacity; and
- Establishment of a ripios disposal area.
Current Project Phase
The Phase 1 assessment has been completed and the Final SEIA Report (Ninham Shand Report No. 4492/402239) was submitted to the Ministry of Environment & Tourism: Directorate of Environmental Affairs (MET:DEA) for a decision. Their approval of the Phase 1 SEIA was issued on 7 April 2008, by means of an Environmental Clearance.
The Phase 2 expansion project components are being dealt with as a separate SEIA process, of which the Final Scoping Report was submitted the Ministry of Environment & Tourism: Directorate of Environmental Affairs (MET:DEA) on 14 May 2008 for a decision.
Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) registered for Phase 1 of the SEIA will be kept informed as the present Phase 2 process continues.
NEW!! Phase 2a - DRAFT SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT AND SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN, FOR A SULPHUR HANDLING FACILITY IN THE PORT OF WALVIS BAY - the comment period for this report closed on 6 December 2009 and the report was submitted to the Ministry of Environment & Tourism: Directorate of Environmental Affairs (MET:DEA) in December 2009 for a decision.
Marie Hoadley is the Public Participation Manager for the Rössing Uranium Mine Expansion SEIAs. She may be contacted at any of the following contact points:
Email:
Post: Private Bag 5005, Swakopmund, Namibia Fax: 064 520 2286
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