WeeklySA_AdminBOON:Vast amounts of precious commodities abound amid environmental concerns
By Ali Mphaki
Mining activity is expected to soar as more and more minerals are uncovered in the Limpopo province – in addition to 82 mining projects currently underway in the province.
The 82 mining activities, listed in Africa Mining IQ, pertain to yields of coal, copper, diamonds, nickel, etc. All eyes are now on the new oil and gas find reported in Weekly SA Mirror by family managed Booi Brothers Petroleum (BBP), which says it has uncovered massive oil and gas deposits in the east of the province, near Kruger National Park.
This discovery amounts to about 3.1 trillion cubic metres of recoverable gas in the area. This after a feasibility study was called in the area situated near Louis Trichardt due to various reports of hydrocarbon findings in both shallow water boreholes and the presence of oil on the surface during rainy days. BBP is an entity based in South Africa that has been in operation since 2005.
BBP CEO Peter Booi, explaining that they are ready to drill, said added spin-offs from the gas and oil find would help ease South Africa’s electricity woes while also creating huge employment opportunities.
“We want more business companies with an interest to come on board,” adding that there was about 3.1 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas in the area,” he said, adding that though they were in talks with the Geoscience department and the Petroleum Association of South Africa (PASA) more investors were needed,” Booi said.
By the end of the week, Weekly SA Mirror’s inquiries to both the Geosccience department and Pasa about the BBP had not been responded to by the time going to deadline-time. Earlier this week, BBP’s reported find was followed by the announcement by Council of Geo-Science that gold and other deposits haD been discovered in the Giyani area under the Mopani district in Limpopo.
The council’s CEO, Mosa Mabuza, told delegates at the Limpopo Mining Investment Conference, that has come to an end, that scientists and engineers conducted research in the area.
“Gold is absolutely there and we are doing further assessment to ascertain whether that gold can be economically extracted. If, indeed, we made this discovery, it will have a huge impact in that part of the world,” he said.
Limpopo MEC for Economic Development Thabo Mokone told the conference that the provincial government was going ahead with the development of the multi-billion-rand Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone in the Vhembe District. He says this is despite allegations the Chinese government intends to stop funding projects related to coal around the world.
The SEZ project includes the construction of a multi-billion-rand coal power station, for which China offered to invest about R150 billion in the project.
“We know that at this present moment the South African energy is propelled by coal energy. We understand China has its own programmes, South Africa as a government, we also have our own programme, so we don’t think we will be affected by anything.”
Meanwhile communities living around the mining areas and green activists have raised serious environmental and health concerns.
Environmentalists warn that about 100 rare trees along the Kruger National Park may be destroyed due to increased mining activity in the area.
Unlicensed miners have also contributed to the residents’ problems.
