Jindal Melmoth Iron Ore Project (KZN30/5/1/2/2/10108MR) - DMRE Decision

Project Background

Jindal Iron Ore (Pty) Ltd (Jindal), is owned by Jindal Steel and Power (Mauritius) Limited (74%) and a South African BBBEE partner, Mr. Thabang Khomo (26%). Jindal holds two Prospecting Rights (PR) within the Mthonjaneni Local Municipality (LM) in KZN. The North Block (PR 10644) is 8 467 ha and the South Block (PR 10652) is 11 703 ha in extent. Jindal had previously prospected in these PR areas, but suspended the project in 2016.Jindal then restarted the Mining Right Application process in 2021 and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report and Waste Management Licence Application were submitted to the KZN DMRE on 16 October 2023 for their review and decision making.

The Jindal MIOP site is located 25 km southeast of Melmoth, within the Mthonjaneni Local Municipality in the KZN Province of South Africa. Jindal is proposing to develop an open pit iron ore mine and processing facility on the site to extract 32 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of iron ore which would be processed on site to produce approximately 7 mtpa of iron ore concentrate.

Jindal appointed SLR Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner to undertake the EIA process and the associated public participation process (PPP) to inform the MRA.

DMRE Decision

With reference to the above-mentioned application, please be advised that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy DMRE has decided to refuse the application for an Environmental Authorisation and a Waste Management Licence (notification dated 29 January 2024).

Should you wish to appeal any aspect of the decision, this must be done within 20 calendar days from the notification of this decision (29 January 2024). The appeal must be submitted to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and a copy of the appeal also submitted to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (Kwazulu Natal Regional Office). Such appeal must be lodged as prescribed in Chapter 2 of the National Appeal Regulations of 2014, as amended, by one of the methods prescribed below.

APPEAL PROCEDURE

Appeal to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

• Attention: Directorate Appeals and Legal Review
• Email: appeals@dffe.gov.za / MRakgogo@dffe.co.za
• By Post: Private Bag X477, Pretoria, 0001
• By Hand: Environmental House, 473 Steve Biko Road, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0083

Copy of the Lodged Appeal to the DMRE

• Attention: Regional Manager: Kwazulu Natal Region
• By facsimile: (031) 305 5801
• E-mail: Ntsundeni. Ravhugoni@dmre.gov.za
• By Post: Private Bag X54307, Durban, 4000
• By Hand: 333 Anton Lambede Street, 3rd Floor Durban Bay House, Durban, 4000

Should you decide to appeal, you must comply with the National Appeal Regulation of 2014 in relation to notification of all registered interested and affected parties. A copy pf the appeal form can be obtained from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment.

Status

DMRE Decision on the Jindal MIOP

Notice is hereby given, in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2014 promulgated under NEMA, that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) & Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) prepared for the above-mentioned project has been refused by the DMRE.