7th August, 2011

Diamond giant De Beers plans to put hazardous waste - and up to 1000 prisoners - into its disused property and diamond mines in the Namaqualand.

However, the move has been stalled by the Department of Mineral Resources, which wants more public consultation and the completion of environmental impact studies before plans are approved.
De Beers is in the process of selling its 97000ha Namaqualand mine to local mining company Trans Hex. The environmental management plan (EMP) and mine rehabilitation costs form part of the sale but have yet to be finalised. The proposed waste dump and prison are listed as alternative land uses in documents submitted to the government as part of De Beer's original EMP.
It has prompted fierce criticism from watchdog groups and community representatives, some of whom accuse De Beers of trying to avoid the cost of flattening mine dumps and filling in huge diamond pits.
De Beers communications chief Sakhile Ngcobo confirmed that the company had paid R2-million for a prison feasibility study and was in the process of discussing potential sites for hazardous waste. But he said the projects were just two of several potential business ideas for the disused mine areas, which incorporate two towns, Kleinzee and Koingnaas.