Rössing’s sulphur facility assessment open for comments

The draft social and environmental impact assessment (SEIA), and the social and environmental management plan (SEMP) for Rössing Uranium’s (Rio Tinto) proposed sulphur handling facility in the port of Walvis Bay was made available last Friday and the public are invited to make comments to this effect.

The proposal has stirred public reaction over the safety of handling and transport of sulphur on the environment, especially groundwater contamination and sulphur dust pollution.According to the report, an on-site pyrite burning acid plant was in use until 1997, after which it was converted to burn elemental sulphur imported through Walvis Bay and railed to the mine. This production plant was mothballed in 2000 when prices of imported acid fell below production cost. Since 2000, the entire mine’s acid requirements have been imported via Walvis Bay and railed inland to the mine. Rössing has now proposed the construction of a sulphur storage shed inside the port area with associated facilities and handling equipment.The sulphur would be shipped to the Walvis Bay bulk terminal at an estimated 50-day interval and reclaimed from the ship to a waiting tractor-drawn side-tipping trailer. Unloading operations will run 24 hours a day. The sulphur will be transported in trailers to the sulphur storage shed.The shed will be equipped with various conveyor belts and a mobile plant to allow for the management and handling of the sulphur.The existing railway lines inside the port area will be extended to service the sulphur loading area at the shed.To meet the demand for the acid production at the mine, it is estimated that five trains per week, comprising 12 railcars of 50 tonnes capacity each, will need to make the 100-kilometre journey between the port and the mine.Adjacent to the SEIA, there is also the SEMP to ensure that the key occupational health, safety, environment and community aspects, as well as mitigatory measures identified or recommended during the SEIA process, are carried forward implemented during the life cycle of the proposed project. Once all the comments and concerns raised have been considered and incorporated in the final SEIA report, it will be submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs for the issuing of a clearance certificate for the project.The reports are on the websites of Rössing Uranium (www.rossing.com) for download, while hard copies are available at the Walvis Bay Public Library; and the National Library of Namibia in Windhoek. Comments must be submitted to the Public Participation Manager, Marie Hoadley, by December 6. Contact her at mariehoadley@iafrica.com.na; or fax: 064-520 2286.