Coal of Africa water use licence suspended at Makhado

8th Apr 2016 11:46

(ShareCast News) - Coal of Africa had its Integrated Water Use Licence on the Makhado Project suspended on Friday, following an appeal to the South African Department of Water and Sanitation, submitted by the Vhembe Mineral Resources Forum and other parties.The appeal automatically suspended the licence under the South African Water Act.Its board had anticipated the appeal, and was in the process of preparing an urgent representation to the Minister of Water and Sanitation to request that the licence remain in full force and effect, pending the final conclusion of the appeal by the country's Water Tribunal."We are actively engaging with the Department to resolve this appropriately," said Coal of Africa CEO David Brown."We remain committed to the sustainable development of the Makhado Project, whilst recognising its potential to drive significant socio-economic transformation."We will continue to engage with all stakeholders to ensure the on-going implementation of our co-existent model, seeking co-operation between mining, agriculture and heritage land uses," he added.