Project Reference: 750.12004.00014 File Ref. 2016-06-20 Lafarge Mobile EMP notification letter to IAPs

21 June 2016

ATTENTION: INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTIES

Dear Interested and Affected Party

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

PROGRAMME UPDATE FOR THE POLOKWANE QUARRY UNDER DMR REFERENCE

NUMBER LP 30/5/1/2/2/109 MR

Lafarge Mining South Africa (Lafarge) own and operate a granite quarry approximately 6km south-east of

Polokwane, referred to as the Polokwane Quarry. The quarry is located on the remaining extent of the Farm

Weltevreden 746 LS in the Polokwane Local Municipality and Capricorn District Municipality of the Limpopo

Province. Lafarge have made changes to their operations by replacing the previous fixed crushing and

screening equipment with a mobile modular plant.

Lafarge amended its environmental management programme (EMPr) in 2012 to include the changes to its

operations. As part of the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) review process, Lafarge was requested

in 2016 to conduct a public participation process for the project. Lafarge has appointed SLR Consulting

(Africa) (Pty) Ltd (SLR) to conduct the Public Participation Process.

The amended EMPr and Environmental Impact Assessment Report is available for public and authority

review for a period of 30 days from the 22nd

June 2016 until the 22nd

July 2016 at:

the Lafarge Polokwane Quarry on Silicon Road, Polokwane, Limpopo Province;

an electronic copy will be made available on request; or

the report and appendices can be downloaded from the Synergistics/SLR website as follows:

1. Go to www.synergistics.co.za

2. Click on the Report FTP page

3. Enter the following login details: Username: synergistics; Password: v9urweyf.

The executive summary of the report has been attached with this letter in Appendix 1.

SLR Consulting (Africa) (Pty) Ltd

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All comments are to be submitted in writing to SLR on the details below. Comments need to reach SLR on or

before the 22nd

July 2016:

Contact person: Mr Edwynn Louw

Fax: (011) 467-0978

E-mail: elouw@slrconsulting.com

Postal Address: PO Box 1596; Cramerview; 2060

Tel Queries: (011) 467-0945

SLR Project Reference: 750.12004.00014

The EMPr and Environmental Impact Assessment Report will be updated with any comments received from

regulatory authorities and interested and affected parties during the review period. The updated report will be

sent to the Department of Mineral Resources for decision making.

For any queries please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.

Kind regards

Edwynn Louw Environmental Assessment Practitioner For SLR Consulting (Africa)

SLR Consulting (Africa) (Pty) Ltd

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APPENDIX 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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Project: 750.12004.00014

Report No.1

Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Environmental Management Programme Update for the Polokwane Quarry

June 2016

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

REPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME UPDATE FOR

THE POLOKWANE QUARRY

June 2016

SUBMITTED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISTION IN TERMS OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT (ACT 107 OF 1998) IN

RESPECT OF ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED IN TERMS OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT (ACT 28 OF 2002)

(AS AMENDED)

NAME OF APPLICANT: LAFARGE MINING SOUTH AFRICA

(PTY) LTD

TEL NO: 015 291 3286

FAX NO: 015 291 3409

POSTAL ADDRESS: POLOKWANE QUARRY, P.O BOX 80, POLOKWANE, 0700

FILE REFERENCE NUMBER DMR: LP 30/5/1/2/2/109 MR

SLR Consulting (Africa) (Pty) Ltd Page ii

Project: 750.12004.00014

Report No.1

Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Environmental Management Programme Update for the Polokwane Quarry

June 2016

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

Title Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Environmental Management Programme Update for the Polokwane Quarry

Status For public review

Applicant LAFARGE MINING SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD

Consultant SLR Consulting (Africa) (Pty) Ltd

Project Number 750.12004.00014

Project Manager Edwynn Louw

Report Authors Vivienne Vorster/ Mari Wolmerans/ Chiara D�Egidio Kotze/ Edwynn Louw

Reviewer Alex Pheiffer

Report Number 1

Date last printed 2016/06/10 11:29 AM

Date last saved 2016/06/16 08:59 AM

Issue Date June 2016

This report has been prepared by an SLR Group company with all reasonable skill, care and diligence,

taking into account the manpower and resources devoted to it. Information reported herein is based on

the interpretation of data collected, which has been accepted in good faith as being accurate and valid.

No warranties or guarantees are expressed or should be inferred by any third parties.

This report may not be relied upon by other parties without written consent from SLR.

SLR disclaims any responsibility in respect of any matters outside the agreed scope of the work.

SLR Consulting (Africa) (Pty) Ltd Page i

Project: 750.12004.00014

Report No.1

Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Environmental Management Programme Update for the Polokwane Quarry

June 2016

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME UPDATE FOR THE POLOKWANE QUARRY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

The Polokwane Quarry, located approximately 6km south-east of Polokwane, is owned by Lafarge Mining

South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Lafarge). It is situated on the Remaining Extent of the Farm Weltevreden 746 LS

and falls within the jurisdiction of the Polokwane Local Municipality. The mining right area is

approximately 63 ha in total, although the quarry pit only occupies an area of approximately 3.6 ha.

Access to the quarry is from Silicon Road, which is a tarred road up until the quarry entrance gate.

The quarry was purchased by Lafarge in 2000, although it was owned and operated by Ready Mix

Materials (RMM) for approximately 30 years prior to Lafarge purchasing it. The quarry is a granite mine

and the crushed product is used primarily in road building and the construction industry.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

The quarry was originally operated in terms of the old Minerals Act (DME reference number OT 5/3/2/29)

and in 2012 converted its old order mining rights to new order rights (New DMR reference number LP

30/5/1/2/2/109 MR) as per the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) (No. 28 of

2002).

No significant changes to mining activities have occurred between 1995 and 2016, subsequent to the

approval of the original EMPr in 1995. In 2003, Lafarge amended its EMPr to cater for the conversion of

its old order mining rights to new order mining rights. The approved 2003 Environmental Management

Programme Report (EMPr) covers all existing mining areas and activities at the Polokwane Quarry. In

2011, Lafarge submitted an amended EMPr to address changes at the operation; however no decision

on the amended EMPr was taken by the then DME. Following liaison between Lafarge and the

Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) (previously known as the DME) on the 10th July 2015 and a

site visit undertaken on the 26th August 2015, it was agreed that the 2011 EMPr would be updated to

address the change to processing equipment. In late 2015, Lafarge revised the amended EMPr to cater

for the replacement of the fixed processing equipment with a mobile modular plant. The motivation for

this was that the existing processing equipment was becoming unreliable and had poor energy efficiency.

During consultation between Lafarge and the DMR in 2016, it was requested by the DMR that the

updated EMPr provide for public consultation and conform to the requirements of the new DMR report

template. This report is therefore the updated EMPr for the site taking into account the use of a mobile

modular plant and the new DMR report template.

SLR Consulting (Africa) (Pty) Ltd Page ii

Project: 750.12004.00014

Report No.1

Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Environmental Management Programme Update for the Polokwane Quarry

June 2016

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The mineral being mined is granite and the aggregate produced is used in various processes such as

construction operations and road building. It is envisaged that due to improvement in the economic

market demand in the region, production will be 500 000 tons per annum with the use of the mobile

modular plant. Decommissioning is currently anticipated in 2028.

The method of mining is open cast, undertaken using drill and blast, excavation, load and haul, and

crushing and screening techniques. The majority of the available topsoil and overburden has already

been stripped by the previous quarry operators and has been stockpiled on the outskirts of the quarry pit

for use during rehabilitation. Blasting takes place by a licensed sub-contractor.

The mobile modular plant incorporates a primary crusher, a secondary crusher, a tertiary crusher,

screens and conveyors.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

The stakeholder engagement process comprised notification of IAPs through a newspaper

advertisement, placement of site notices and distribution of a background information document. To date

no comments from IAPs and authorities have been received. IAPs will have an opportunity to review the

updated EIR and EMPr report. All comments will be included in the report submitted to DMR.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

The potential biophysical, socio-economic and environmental impacts of changes to operations at the

quarry were assessed as outlined below.

SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS

Section Potential impact Significance of the impact

(the ratings are negative unless otherwise specified)

Unmitigated Mitigated

Climate Potential minor changes to local micro-climates around the pit and stockpile areas.

Low Low

Geology Loss and sterilization of mineral resources Low Low

Topography Change in natural topography of the site. M M

Soils Potential loss of topsoil. Low Low

Risk of soil contamination. Low Low

Biodiversity Physical destruction of biodiversity due to quarrying operations Medium Medium

Sensitive and protected areas

Physical disturbance of sensitive and protected areas. Neutral Neutral

Surface water Minimal surface water used and there is thus no impact on surface water resources.

Neutral Neutral

Groundwater Minimal groundwater use from a single borehole. No impact on groundwater resources.

Neutral Neutral

SLR Consulting (Africa) (Pty) Ltd Page iii

Project: 750.12004.00014

Report No.1

Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Environmental Management Programme Update for the Polokwane Quarry

June 2016

SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS

Section Potential impact Significance of the impact

(the ratings are negative unless otherwise specified)

Unmitigated Mitigated

Water quality Risk of surface water contamination. Medium Low

Risk of groundwater contamination. Medium Low

Air quality Potential health impacts and nuisance dust for employees. Low Low

Vehicle emissions produced by haul trucks. Low Low

Noise Noise pollution Medium Low

Blasting Blasting increases noise and dust levels. Low Low

Safety aspects (such as injury) associated with blasting activities. Neutral Neutral

Traffic Road disturbance and traffic safety Neutral Neutral

Visual Visual impact on sensitive receptors. Medium Medium

Heritage Loss of heritage, palaeontological and cultural resources Medium Low

Socio-economic Economic Development Neutral Neutral

Employment and livelihoods Neutral Neutral

Public safety and security Neutral Neutral

Housing, services and infrastructure Neutral Neutral

Land use and land capability

Quarrying operations and resource extraction. Medium Medium

CONCLUSIONS

The Polokwane Quarry is an existing quarry and the impacts associated with it remain largely unchanged

since the approval of the EMPR in 1995. The impacts are confined to the mining area and no impacts of

a high magnitude were found to occur on the site. There is a large demand for the aggregates which the

quarry supplies to the surrounding market and the overall benefits of the quarry outweigh the negative

impacts associated with it. It follows that provided the EMPr is effectively implemented there is no

environmental, social or economic reason why the project should not proceed.