The Mpumalanga department of agriculture and land administration (MDALA) gave Consultants BKS (Pty) the go-ahead to continue “into the environmental impact assessment (EIA) phase” of the proposed Richmond dam in the Klein Dwars River. The proposed dam site is in the Dwars River system, which feeds into the Steelpoort River, downstream of the site of the De Hoop dam.
The first draft scoping report, finalised in April 2006, indicated that the proposed Richmond dam was “only going to serve the Anglo Platinum operations on a temporary scale.” However, “further investigations revealed that the proposed Richmond dam will become a permanent source of water to the Anglo Platinum Mining operation in the Eastern Limb.”
This project entails underground mining operations in the Groot and Klein Dwars valleys where approximately 400 000 tonnes of ore a month will be mined at an operating cost of about R43 million a month. The mine has a life expectancy of about 65 years and according to the report, about 1200 people will comprise the total workforce at the mine.
The proposed dam will have a storage capacity of 13,5 million cubic metres and a dam wall of 31 metres in height, covering an area of 1.52km2.
These reports will be integrated into a draft EIR which, according to the consultants, will be made available for public comment
what is the impact expected to be on the Kruger Park when this dam is constructed? The steelpoort valley - if memory serves - is very dry (and hot!). I also recall seeing lots of small farm activities - goats especially. I will watch with interest to see the result of the EIA.
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