Exploration of Stampriet aquifer

WIMPIE KRUGER WRITES:

I refer to the article in Republikein, dated Monday 04 March 2024 under the heading of “Ministerie verwerp bewerings van onwettige boorwerk”.

To this delicate debate, I would like to applaud our Honourable Minister, Calle Schlettwein, for his insight on the subject. The impact of any more and future drilling for which Headspring Investment already has the approved documentation and reports will eventually lead to granting Headspring Investment the authority of liquid mining for uranium. They will insist on compensation for the millions of dollars they have spent until today. Regardless of any “scientific report” they submit that minimise the effect of the liquid process of mining.

However, the Honourable Minister acknowledges the fact that control of managing the contamination of the aquifer subsurface water will result in remedial efforts to rectify the quality of the subsurface water. With these few words, I want to emphasise that prevention is better than cure, which in this case will be too late.

Secondly, who is going to compensate the farmers as far as South Africa and Botswana when they have to stop farming because their water is contaminated? Who is going to use or drink water contaminated with the chemicals used for the liquid mining for uranium?

To this end, there is enough uranium in our country in other deposits that could be mined using the above surface processes that will keep our country safe. But everybody wants to enrich themselves with the highest profit margin possible.

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