Environmental impact

assessment project brief for

dolerite mining / quarrying
at Thaba- Phechela,
Tsakholo , Mafeteng

PREPARED IN FULFILMENT OF
Environmental Act of 2001, Sections 27(1), 28(1),
and 2

SUBMITTED TO
National Environmental Secretariat
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and
Environment
SUBMITTED BY
March 22 Mining and Civil Engineering
(Pty) Ltd
SEPTEMBER 2014
Prepared by
Relebohile Khatibe
P.O. Box 1393
Maseru 100
Cell: +26658540973/ +26662747316
Email: khathiber.khathibe@gmail.com/
khathiber@yahoo.com/

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Mining and quarrying of natural resources, such as, clay diamonds dolerite and river sand,
dominate Lesothos mining industry, and their extraction is exclusively by opencast mining.
The mineral recovery and subsequent production of finished products entail mainly physical
processes. Therefore, environmental impacts of mining are predominantly physical in nature.
These includes enhanced soil erosion from removal of top soil to expose the required material
underneath, mining effluent ,dust ,permanent change of topography and landscape (resulting
in visual impact) and disturbance of aquatic life through water pollution. Air pollution from
the mining and crushing dust is more prevalent during the windy periods, which is August.
Erosion from abandoned opencast mines and mining effluent contribute to an increased
suspended matter in water streams.
Quarrying often involves the use of explosives to break the rock, therefore processing it to the
required final product. The blasting operation may at times cause seismic vibrations, dust,
and noise. The crushing process will result in emission of dust. Trucks and earthmoving
machinery driving along the gravel roads will cause noise, dust and emits exhaust fumes.
Water will be sprayed on the gravel roads and parts of the crusher plant will either be fitted
with mist sprayers to suppress dust or enclosed in a corrugated iron sheet housing. Exhaust
fumes emissions will be minimized by ensuring that all earthmoving machinery trucks
inclusive, are maintained in good running conditions through regular servicing and adopting
preventive maintenance.
Erosion of stripped topsoil also represents a serious environmental impact .Compacting the
stripped overburden and/or revegetating it will reduce loss of soil due to erosive forces. The
impact associated with overburden soils will be minimal, as the project site has poor soil
coverage.
Based on the findings of this study, the proposed mitigation measures will certainly reduce
predicted impacts to acceptable levels, and the social impacts associated with the project will
be insignificant and outweighed by the benefits to be derived from the project establishment.
Potential benefits to be obtained by the local community include employment of, electricity
supply, provision of potable water, road maintenance, provision of other temporary jobs etc.
The economic spin-offs of the mine will be in the form of taxes paid to the government of
Lesotho. Economic upliftment of the local community will also result in creation of other
business opportunities.

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Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................
CHARPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................

1.1

Introduction.......................................................................................................

1.2

Report Structure..................................................................................................

1.3

Purpose, nature and the objective of the project...........................................................

1.4

Scope of work and terms of reference of the consultant.................................................

1.5 Supporting Reports.................................................................................................

1.6

Approach to the study and methodology..................................................................

1.7

Limitations and assumption..................................................................................

1.7.1

General background.....................................................................................

1.7.2

Thaba-Phechela Dolerite Quarry.....................................................................

1.7.3

Choice of Tsakholo Thaba-Phechela mountain...................................................

1.7.4

Zero option..............................................................................................

1.9 Planning policy, legal and administrative requirements.....................................................

1.9.1Planning requirements........................................................................................
1.9.2 Legal and administrative requirements...................................................................
1.9.3 International environmental agreements..................................................................
1.10

Permits, Plans and Notifications required for the mining operation.................................

1.10.1

Mining Right.............................................................................................

1.10.2

Environmental permit/license.........................................................................

1.10.3

Water abstraction permit...............................................................................

1.10.4

Permit to store explosives..............................................................................

1.10.5

Notifications..............................................................................................

1.11

Environmental standards and technical regulations.....................................................

1.11.1

Water quality standards / regulations................................................................

1.11.2

Emission standards......................................................................................

CHAPTER TWO: LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT AREA...................

2.1 Basic information.................................................................................................
2.1.1 Project Proponent.............................................................................................
2.1.2 Project location................................................................................................
2.1.3 History of the project site....................................................................................
2.2 Description of the project area...................................................................................
2.2.1 Cultural, conservation, protected and historical sites..................................................
2.2.2 Fauna............................................................................................................
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2.2.3 Flora.............................................................................................................
2.2.4 Forecasts and agricultural land.............................................................................
2.2.5 Hydrology ground and surface water system..........................................................
2.2.6 Land use- Current.............................................................................................
2.2.7 Local geology..................................................................................................
2.2.9 Socio-economic environment and settlement areas.....................................................
2.2.10 Soil cover.....................................................................................................
2.2.11...................................................................................................................
2.2.12 Topography and landscape.................................................................................
2.2.13 Wind pattern..................................................................................................
2.3 Major elements of the surrounding environment.............................................................
2.3.1 Components of the environment susceptible to the pollution from the mine......................
2.3.2 existing surrounding pollution sources...................................................................
CHAPTER THREE

PROJECT ACTIVITIES................................................................

3.1 Description of the project........................................................................................

3.1.1 Equipment and infrastructure..............................................................................
3.1.2 Concrete aggregate quarrying process..................................................................
3.1.3 Production inputs..............................................................................................
3.1.4 Labour requirements.........................................................................................
3.1.5 Ablution facilities.............................................................................................
3.1.6 General Waste.................................................................................................
3.1.7 Projected output capacity and lifespan....................................................................
3.1.8 Working hours and days.....................................................................................
3.1.9 Project phase-out..............................................................................................
3.2 Ancillary project facilities........................................................................................
3.2.1 Internal network...............................................................................................
3.2.3 Information and communication facilities...............................................................
3.2.4 Sewage works and handling facilities.....................................................................
3.2.5 Accommodation...............................................................................................
3.2.6 Administration office.........................................................................................
3.2.7 Ablution facilities.............................................................................................
3.3 Wastewater treatment system.....................................................................................
3.3.1 Septic tank......................................................................................................
3.3.2 Drainfield.......................................................................................................
3.3.3 Location of the septic tank..................................................................................
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3.3.4 Septic system management..................................................................................

3.4 Mining effluent management.....................................................................................
3.4.1 Settlement ponds..............................................................................................
3.4.2 Silt management...............................................................................................
3.5 Project cost estimate...............................................................................................
CHARPTER FOUR: ELECTRICAL SUPPLY......................................................................
4.1 General Background...............................................................................................
4.2 Analysis of alternative routes for the power line.............................................................
4.2.1 Alternative route...............................................................................................
4.2.2 Recommended route..........................................................................................
4.3 Description of the environment of the proposed route......................................................
4.3.1 Temperature rainfall and wind pattern....................................................................
4.3.2 Landscape and topography..................................................................................
4.3.3 Vegetation......................................................................................................
4.3.4 Socio-economic environment...............................................................................
4.4 Environmental issues/impacts....................................................................................
4.4.1 Impacts on biophysical environment......................................................................
4.4.2 Socio-economic impacts.....................................................................................
CHAPTER FIVE: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS................................................................
5.1 Key environmental issues and impacts identified............................................................
5.1.1 Pre-construction phase.......................................................................................
5.1.2 Construction Phase...........................................................................................
5.1.3 Operation phase...............................................................................................
B. Socio-Economic impacts..............................................................................................
C. Positive impacts..................................................................................................

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