Naledi Development, the independent consultants for Australian mining company Coal of Africa Limited (CoAL), has invited the public and affected or interested parties to comment on the amendments made to the draft environmental management plan (EMP) on the Greater Soutpansberg Project.

Last week, the Zoutpansberger reported on the Soutpansberg Project, during which CoAL will start with a series of exploration drillings on 41 farms in the Limpopo Valley. This follows CoAL’s acquisition of Rio Tinto’s Chapudi Coal Project and the accompanying six prospecting rights.

CoAL intends to drill 213 exploration boreholes over the next 10 months. Before they can continue, however, a new EMP needs to be signed off on in order for them to receive their prospecting licence from the Department of Mineral Rights.

This draft EMP for the six prospecting rights was compiled and will be available for public comment by all interested parties for a period of 30 calendar days from Monday, 25 June, until Tuesday, 24 July.

Copies of the EMP will be available at Jacana Environmentals (7 Landdros Maré Street, Polokwane), Naledi Development (143 Zambesilaan, Sinoville), Waterpoort Farmers Association (Farm Secrabje 470MS), Makhado Municipality (83 Krogh Street, mayor’s office), Makhado public library (corner of Erasmus and Kruger Street), King Tony Mphephu (Tribal office, Dzanani), Tanga Farm (security office, Nzhelele road), Soutpansberg Agricultural Union (118 Krogh Street, Makhado), Patel’s shop (situated near Wylie’s Poort on the N1-north), Ester Makongoza from the Northwhich Padstal and at Lena Otto or Charles Visser from the Stasiewinkel in Mopanie.

People will also be able to request Naledi to mail all the relevant documents to them. Stakeholders can comment on the EMP by either completing a form or writing a letter to Naledi Development.

After the period for public review has passed, the EMP will be updated to take the comments received into consideration. Hereafter, the amended EMP will be submitted to all the relevant authorities. Once the authorities' decision is known, all the stakeholders will be informed.

Naledi Developments can be contacted at Tel 012 543 9093; Fax 086 236 1672 or e-mail: [email protected]