A $160 million South African phosphate mine owned by billionaire Patrice Motsepe\u2019s African Rainbow Capital Investments, which has been beset by environmental disputes for over a decade, is facing a fresh obstacle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The World Wildlife Fund is suing South Africa\u2019s Environment Minister Dion George over his decision in September to dismiss appeals against an offset exemption given to Elandsfontein Mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kropz Plc, which is 90% owned by African Rainbow and owns the Elandsfontein Mine, was also named as a respondent in the lawsuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the offset proposal, which was invalidated by the provincial office of the ministry in 2021, Kropz would have bought and donated more than 20,000 acres of land to the West Coast National Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe environment, and therefore the public at large, has suffered prejudice from the unconscionable delays in the implementation of the offset requirements,\u201d the WWF said in papers filed with South Africa\u2019s High Court on March 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge is the latest attempt by environmentalists to oppose the mine which they say endangers the Langebaan Lagoon, which lies 61 miles north of Cape Town, and the associated aquifer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those disputes, and technical issues, delayed the start up of the mine on South Africa\u2019s second-biggest phosphate deposit, which the company acquired in 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKropz has noted these developments,\u201d the company said in a response to a query. \u201cThey will be considering their position.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The environment department and African Rainbow didn\u2019t immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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