Submission to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs John Munro - CEO 28 th June 2011
Practical Steps being taken by Rand Uranium – 2008 to date 1. AMD Treatment Plant Operations – Interim Measures § Partially treat an average of 12 ML/d of AMD from the Western Basin § Approximately 50% of the AMD discharge rate required to reduce to ECL § At maximum reliable capability of the AMD Plant § Maintained and optimised performance of this plant § Executed emergency measures on behalf of DWA March to June 2010. § Provided assistance to affected parties - alternative water sources, flood control § However RU is running out of capacity to continue even partially treating the AMD § Regular reporting and interaction with regulators on AMD and AMD Plant § Facilitated ongoing community awareness training and access to site by Civil Society , media and academia-total transparency Incurred costs in excess of R 60 m since December 2008 2
Practical Steps being taken – 2008 to date 2. Secured the development of a Long Term Solution to the AMD § Supported WUC in development of a Long Term Solution § Supplied ongoing human capital into the solution § Championed the Implementation of a Long Term Solution and Action § September 2009 – Appeal to DWA regarding Long Term Solution - DDG level § December 2009 – Follow up appeal engagements - DDG level § March 2010– Hosted Minister Sonjica at AMD Site § March 2010 – Further DWA Workshop - DDG level and Ho. D’s of DWA and DMR § June 2010 – Presentation to Minister Sonjica re Long Term Solution § June 2010 - Long Term Solution tabled to new DDG § July 2010 –Presented and Hosted PPC on Water at AMD Site § July 2010 – Detailed Proposal Document presented to DWA on Long Term Solution § August 2010 - Hosted GDARD MEC for Environment § September 2010 – Presentation to IMC Team of Experts 3
Practical Steps being taken 3. IMC Engagement § Presented position and proposals to IMC technical team in Sept 2010 § Prepared alternative short term treatment plan for Western Basin, in line with IMC recommendations released February 2011: § Expansion of RU AMD Treatment Plant Operations § Linkages to Mintails AMD Treatment Plant § Or Link to Central Basin § Presented ideas to DWEA, TCTA and National Treasury § Continued constructive engagement through various engagements, site visits and information provision § Continued operating the AMD Treatment Plant at R 2. 5 m/month 4
Legal Position 1. Rand Uranium was formed in December 2008, § New company, which could not have undertaken the mining that caused the Western Basin AMD § RU does not operate UG mines in the Western Basin § RU’s operating mines are 20 kms away from the Western Basin and are not connected underground § RU acquired the property on which the AMD decants and on which the AMD Treatment Plant is located 2. Water Treatment Plant Governance 1. Directives § 2005 Directive – Expired in 2006, pre RU incorporation § 2009 Directive - RU appealed to Water Tribunal, DWA withdrew the Directive prior to the WT hearing § 2010 Revised Directive Issued § § 2. RU lodged an appeal with the Tribunal - November 2010 – Awaiting hearing date Status in question (lapsed January 2011? ) Expended considerable financial and human resources on this matter § Ongoing engagement with DWA and local stakeholders regarding the AMD Treatment Plant pre and post IMC report § Rand Uranium continues ongoing partial treatment of AMD THE AMD IS A LEGACY LIABILITY, WAS NOT CREATED BY RAND URANIUM 5
Conclusion Rand Uranium : § Has and continues to undertake very costly partial AMD treatment operations § on a without prejudice basis, given RU did not create this problem § when few other parties were taking any action in the face of an ownerless crisis § Has undertaken extensive engagement with Government to argue for action § Has extensively supported the development and implementation of a SUSTAINABLE, EXTERNALLY FUNDABLE LONG TERM SOLUTION thus obviating long term liability disputes § Has proposed various short and long term measures to meet the needs identified in the IMC Report. § Has reached a critical decision point in the face of the rejection by DWA of the Long term WUC solution 6
Скачать презентацию Submission to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water
3f19922398692629ac4b045a4df5904d.ppt