Mining and processing gold ore within the mining licence areas of EPLs 5196, 6167, 5658, 6953, 3739 and 7301. The mining licence is for base and rare metals, and precious metals. Nature of activity: The proposed project is for the mining of base and rare metals, and precious metals. As part of the proposed mining project, the following activities are envisaged, which shall be further defined as the mining program is refined: - Investment in exploring the mineral potential of the Erongo Region; and - Mining activities. Scale and scope of activity: Mining activities shall take place within the boundaries of EPLs 5196, 6167, 5658, 6953, 3739 and 7301, illustrated in Figure 1 (Location of EPLs). Figure 2 renders a map of the Mining Licence Area and Figure 3 renders a map of the layout of the mining and processing activities. It is envisaged that the mining operation at Twin Hills Gold Mining Project will be similar to that of B2Gold Otjikoto and QKR Navachab gold mines. The estimated production at the Twin Hills Gold Mine will be approximately 3 million tonnes of ore which equates to approximately 100,000 ounces of gold per year. Mining of the open pit will be conventional drill and blast, with ore and waste rock being shovelled and transported by a fleet of mobile equipment. Waste rock will be trucked to a waste rock dump, and the ore will be sent to the plant for crushing, cyanide leaching, carbon-in-pulp (CIP) processing, electrowinning and then smelting in an induction furnace to produce gold bars. The planned mining activities are generally high-impact and intrusive. This same map shows the location of the various site components. The proposed mining licence area will consist of an open pit processing plant that will include a primary- and secondary crusher, a Waste Rock Dump (WRD), and a Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), with the following activities taking place on-site: - Construction of access tracks and roads, where existing tracks cannot be utilised for the fleet of mobile equipment. The roads are essential due to regular vehicular movement; - Vegetation clearing for the creation of tracks, open-pit mine and survey access; - Ongoing ground exploration activities may include soil sampling, geological mapping, geophysical surveys, drilling and drill-core sampling, and blast of the open-pit mine. - Construction of the plant infrastructure, as well as the infrastructure for fuel and chemical storage; - Crushing and screening of the ore; and - Water recycling and dust suppression Listed activities triggered by the project include: Listed activity mining activity energy generation, transmission and storage activities (1.a) The construction of facilities for the generation of electricity. (1.b) The construction of facilities for the transmission and supply of electricity. − The mine will connect to the Nampower grid. − There is a possibility that a solar power station will be constructed for the generation of electricity. − The electricity that is generated will be used to supply electricity to the mine and potential surplus redirected into the grid power system. Waste management, treatment, handling, and disposal activities (2.1) The construction of facilities for waste sites, treatment of waste and disposal of waste. (2.2) Any activity entailing a scheduled process referred to in the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Ordinance, 1976. (2.3) The import, processing, use and recycling, temporary storage, transit or export of waste. − Facilities for disposal of waste generated by site will need to be constructed. − The activity that is listed in the Environmental Management Act, No. 7 of 2007 (2.2) referred to (58) in the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Ordinance, 1976. The bulk storage and handling of ore: That is to say, the storage and handling of metallic ore at dumps designed to hold 100 000 metric tons or more, which are not situated on the premises of a mine or works as defined in the Mines, Works and Minerals Ordinance, 1968 (Ordinance 20 of 1968). MINING AND Quarrying activities (3.1) The construction of facilities for any process or activities which requires a license, right or other form of authorization, and the renewal of a license, right or other form of authorization, in terms of the Minerals (Prospecting and Mining Act), 1992. (3.2) Other forms of mining or extraction of any natural resources whether regulated by law or not. (3.3) Resource extraction, manipulation, conservation and related activities. − This listed activity, infers the provisions of the Minerals Act (Prospecting and Mining) Act 33 of 1992, under different licences as the basis upon which certain activities qualify for an EIA. The Minerals Act (1992) defines mining activities under the lawful ownership of a mining licence (ML). A mining licence includes any mining activities. − The resource in this case gold, will be extracted, then processed in the plant eventually producing gold bars. Forestry activities (4) The clearance of forest areas, deforestation, a forestation, timber harvesting or any other related activity that requires authorisation in term of the Forest Act, 2001 (Act No. 12 of 2001) or any other law. − Vegetation clearing may be required for tracks and the construction of access roads, and possibly for the setup of the, thickener, filter press and disposal facility of tailings. Water resource development (8.1) The abstraction of ground or surface water for industrial or commercial purposes. (8.2) The abstraction of groundwater at a volume exceeding the threshold authorized in terms of a law relating water resources. (8.4) Construction of canals and channels including the diversion of the normal flow of water in a riverbed and water transfer schemes between water catchments and impoundments. (8.5) Construction of dams, reservoirs, levees and weirs. (8.6) Construction of industrial and domestic wastewater treatment plants and related pipeline systems. (8.9) Construction and other activities within a catchment area. − Ground and surface water may be abstracted, or sourced for the operation. − The sourced groundwater may likely exceed the threshold authorized in terms of the Water Act, and therefore permits for abstraction must be sourced. − An ephemeral river runs through a section of the planned open-pit, thus a strategy is required to assess the management of this potential interaction. − There is a possibility of the construction of a dam and the water will be used for the plant. − Pipeline systems will need to be constructed to transport the water to the plant from the dam. − The mining area is within a catchment area. Hazardous substance treatment, handling and storage (9.1) The manufacturing, storage, handling or processing of a hazardous substance defined in the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, 1974. (9.2) Any process or activity which requires a permit, licence or other form of authorization, or the modification of or changes to existing facilities for any process or activity which requires amendment of an existing permit, licence or authorization or which requires a new permit, licence or authorization in terms of a governing the generation or release of emissions, pollution, effluent or waste. (9.4) The storage and handling of a dangerous goods, including petrol, diesel, liquid petroleum gas or paraffin, in containers with a combined capacity of more than 30 cubic meters at any one location. − The storage, handling and processing of the hazardous substances including cyanide that will be required in the processing plant. − Licences will be obtained for all hazardous substances that will need to be stored on the site. Infrastructure ( 10.b) The construction of public roads. (10.g) The construction of communication networks including towers, telecommunication and marine telecommunication lines and cables. (10.j) i) The construction of masts of any material or type and of any height, including those used for telecommunication broadcasting and radio transmission, but excluding flag poles; and ii) Lightning conductor poles. − A new road may need to be constructed from C33 to D1941, as road D1941 is currently located in the center of the proposed open-pit area. − Towers for communication will need to be constructed, thus cables and telecommunication lines will be put in place.