WA EPA recommends BHP’s Southern Flank for approval
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has recommended diversified major BHP’s proposal to expand its Mining Area C iron-ore operations for environmental approval.
The Southern Flank operation, about 100 km from Newman, will expand the existing Mining Area C hub and is BHP’s preferred option to replace the 80-million-tonne-a-year Yandi mine, which will reach the end of its mine life in early- to mid-2020.
However, the EPA has said that the expansion should only be allowed to proceed with strict conditions and offsets aimed at protecting the local Ghost Bat population and ensuring the expansion’s water management does not impact on the Weeli Wolli Spring and Coondewanna Flats.
The miner will also be required to report on greenhouse gas emissions and on the continued implementation of a cultural heritage management plan to minimise the impacts on sites of Aboriginal significance.
To expand iron-ore operations, BHP intends clearing 16 257 ha of vegetation for an opencut mine, associated mining infrastructure, an overland conveyor, accommodation villages and the construction and operation of a rail spur.
The EPA has recommended that BHP make a contribution to State government’s Pilbara Environmental Offset Fund for the residual impacts on Ghost Bat habitat and the clearing of native vegetation.
The EPA’s report to the Environment Minister is now open for a public appeal period until December 22.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
At Airshrink - CiP, we surpass customer expectations with innovative MV and LV cable accessories, including heat shrink joints, terminations,...
VISIT SHOWROOM
AirNox (Pty) Ltd is a level 1 BBBEE manufacturer of complete AdBlue® solutions for operators of SCR diesel engines and AUS40 across South Africa...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
