Jindal Steel has proposed a mining project in Melmoth (KwaZulu-Natal) that, if realized, would become the country's second-largest iron ore mine, capable of producing 32 million tons of magnetite iron ore annually, which can be processed into 7 million tons of iron ore concentrate.
However, the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) declined to issue a construction permit due to deficiencies in the environmental impact assessment, with local communities also expressing opposition to the proposed development.
The company's spokesperson, Parshant Kumar Goyal, stated their plans to appeal within three weeks.
The deposit is situated approximately 70 km from the port of Richards Bay. According to the company, the extracted ore can be exported for utilization in its steel plants in Oman or India, or alternatively sold. Jindal anticipates securing a mining license by 2024.
Comments
No comment yet.