Rio Tinto, that owns Rossing Uranium mine, plans exploration activities for copper in Kavango East.
The exploration will be done in the Bwabwata National Park and the Maduva Nyangana and Shamungwa Communal Conservancies in Kavango East.
The company is currently conducting public consultations with all parties that will be affected by the exploration.
Documents showed that Rio Tinto Mining & Exploration has applied for six base metal Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs) in February and June this year.
Rio Tinto has also entered a joint venture agreement with H Sands in August in terms of EPL 4934.
The planned exploration activities for the various EPLs are subject to an Environmental Clearance (EC) application as required by the Environmental Management Act.
Four EPLs located outside the Bwabwata National Park (BNP) will be jointly assessed during the EIA, while EPLs 5607 and 5608 will be grouped and assessed in a separate EIA, since they fall within a national park.
"Mitigation measures will be recommended for the negative impacts while positive impacts will be enhanced," Rio Tinto says.
The landscape of the area is predominantly flat, with gentle rolling hills dipping towards the Okavango River in the north.
"The objective of the planned exploration is to identify any base metal deposits which are viable for commercial mining, while the EIA will aim to identify sensitive environmental features that might be affected by such activities," Rio Tinto said.
All water required for exploration activities will be obtained from existing boreholes, or approved water sources, through water extraction permits.
Some of the possible negative impacts identified in the documents are soil and water contamination and disturbances and flora and fauna destruction caused by track creation and drilling.
"While some of these impacts are general for all exploration activities, others depend on the exact target area and its sensitivities," Rio Tinto said.
The exploration will be done in the Bwabwata National Park and the Maduva Nyangana and Shamungwa Communal Conservancies in Kavango East.
The company is currently conducting public consultations with all parties that will be affected by the exploration.
Documents showed that Rio Tinto Mining & Exploration has applied for six base metal Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs) in February and June this year.
Rio Tinto has also entered a joint venture agreement with H Sands in August in terms of EPL 4934.
The planned exploration activities for the various EPLs are subject to an Environmental Clearance (EC) application as required by the Environmental Management Act.
Four EPLs located outside the Bwabwata National Park (BNP) will be jointly assessed during the EIA, while EPLs 5607 and 5608 will be grouped and assessed in a separate EIA, since they fall within a national park.
"Mitigation measures will be recommended for the negative impacts while positive impacts will be enhanced," Rio Tinto says.
The landscape of the area is predominantly flat, with gentle rolling hills dipping towards the Okavango River in the north.
"The objective of the planned exploration is to identify any base metal deposits which are viable for commercial mining, while the EIA will aim to identify sensitive environmental features that might be affected by such activities," Rio Tinto said.
All water required for exploration activities will be obtained from existing boreholes, or approved water sources, through water extraction permits.
Some of the possible negative impacts identified in the documents are soil and water contamination and disturbances and flora and fauna destruction caused by track creation and drilling.
"While some of these impacts are general for all exploration activities, others depend on the exact target area and its sensitivities," Rio Tinto said.
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