Wessels Manganese Mine

Project Overview

This project dealt with the amendment of the approved Environmental Management Programme (EMPr), for the HMM Wessels Manganese Mine situated near Hotazel in Northern Cape. Manganese is mined from underground workings using bord and pillar methods approximately 270-300 m below the surface accessed by vertical and decline shafts. No specific changes to the mining activities were applicable to this project. The amendment process was necessitated by the recommendations made in a performance assessment audit conducted for Wessels by Knight Piésold in 2016.

Project Role

Knight Piésold was appointed on behalf of South32 Hotazel Manganese Mines to conduct the EMPr amendment process under Regulation 35 and 37 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2014) of the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998). The following services were rendered:

• Integrated Water Use License process
• Surface water study (stormwater management and aquatic ecology studies)
• Public participation

Knight Piésold conducted a legislative gap analysis during the initiation phase of the project, which identified areas of legislative non-compliance. The gap analysis resulted in the appointment to undertake an Integrated Water Use License Application (IWULA) process. The IWULA and EMPr amendment processes were undertaken concurrently. The gap analysis also included integrating services of Knight Piésold’s engineers to conduct a surface water study and conceptual stormwater management plan for the site.