DESCRIPTION OF THE PONTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND

MITIGATION MEASURES.
This section focuses on identifying possible negative impacts the proposed Tongaat sugar mill plant
will have on the environment during the construction and the operation phases of the plant. The
identification and evaluation of the impacts highly depends on the type of activity that will be carried
out, as well as the kind of pollution prevention measures that are envisioned within the framework of
the Project proposal. The impacts of the proposed project on the environment will be evaluated with
regards to the two phases of the project, mainly the construction and operation phases of the sugar
mill plant.

1. Expected impacts on the environment and mitigation methods for the construction phase:
a. Loss of vegetation
For the purposes of developing the site, building access roads and other infrastructures, it
is necessary to clear vegetation by excavating the land. There will be sugarcane
plantations at the site of the project which means more vegetation will be removed. This
will make soil susceptible to the agent of soil erosion and reduced vegetation cover. Also,
disturbance will be caused to indigenous vegetation used as medicinal plants.
 Mitigation
 Move any indigenous vegetation to protected sites.
 Demarcate the proposed project site to ensure that any disturbance to the flora
and fauna is limited to the actual project site and avoid disturbing the
surrounding areas.
b. Noise pollution and vibrations
The noise and vibration at the construction site will be amplified by the work carried out,
these includes deliveries of construction materials by heavy trucks or use of heavy
construction machinery. This will increase noise levels in the project site, which can affect
particularly possible wildlife of the surrounding areas.
 Mitigation
 Construction machinery need to be maintained to lower noise and vibration
generation.
 Adopt noise-reducing strategies, such as using construction machinery that is
noise-reduced or has control panels that allow noise controlling.
c. Impacts on air quality
The air quality will be affected by exhaust and dust emissions caused by the construction
machinery during the construction phase.
 Mitigation
 The total number of construction machineries operating at the same time must
be kept at minimum by effective management techniques to avoid abundant
exhaust emissions.
 Transportation of construction materials must be planned to decrease the
number of unnecessary trips and number of vehicles on the road.
 To reduce the amount of dust during excavation work, the soil surface must be
kept moist by water spraying.
d. Solid waste
Solid waste will be generated from the construction activities and excavation works to
level the site in order to build the foundations which will result in the production of the
excavated material. The solid waste includes packaging materials and containers, pipes,
glass, metals, and wires etc, and need to be disposed of properly.
 Mitigation
 Solid waste will be divided into areas for reuse, resale, and non-reuse material
to cut down on waste and the cost of raw materials during construction period.
 Any non-recyclable materials will be eliminated by authorized waste handlers,
and selected waste space will be protected from the wind and rain.
e. Water demand
 Increased water demand due to construction activities may result in increased project
costs and soil erosion caused by the strain placed on the existing water source.
 Mitigation
 Whenever necessary, water must be recycled or reused as much as possible.
 Consider collecting and saving rainwater, as an alternative source of water.
f. Energy consumption
The proposed Project will use fossil fuels for transport vehicles and construction
machinery, posing environmental risks. Excessive use of non-renewable energy,
electricity, and manual labour during construction will increase energy consumption.
 Mitigation
 Maintenance of machinery and vehicles is also vital to minimise energy usage.
 Measures to conserve energy, including proper material transportation planning,
monitoring energy use during construction and developing an energy
management plan must be considered.
g. Water pollution
The construction of the sugar mill plant will result in water pollution, affecting surface and
ground water parameters and the environment. Activities associated with water pollution
include poor solid waste disposal from construction site and spills from construction
machines and equipment.
 Mitigation
 During the construction phase of the project, it must be ensured that excavated
soil and cement is handled properly to avoid it getting into rainwater drainage
systems causing blockage.
h. Loss of aesthetic value
The project site will be exposed to vegetation removal and land excavation which will alter
the landscape which decreases the aesthetic value of the site.
 Mitigation
 Consider greening the site by leaving some vegetation and planting trees as
well as properly managing waste will increase the aesthetic value of the site.

2. Expected impacts on the environment and mitigation methods for the operating phase:
a. Increased demand for water usage
During the project's operation phase, a significant quantity of water will be needed for
industrial purposes. It will result in an increased pressure and water requirements within
the project area, since too much water is being drained from the existing water source
and more water must be bought from the municipality.
 Mitigation
 Using rainwater to water the sugarcane plots
 Recycle and reuse water from the operation of the plant to water sugarcane.
 Ensure that there is no water leakage within the mill plant and regularly maintain
water pipes.
b. Air pollution
Release of emissions from the operating plant machinery and exhaust emissions may
affect quality of the air, leading to depletion of the ozone layer.
 Mitigation
 Consider using bagasse produced from sugar production instead of coal as a
source of fuel which will likely increase quality of the air in terms of carbon and
sulfur oxide and other toxic gases.
 Employ wet scrubbing technology to eliminate fly ash from the flue gas and guar
antee that emissions adhere to permissible air quality criteria.
c. Generated solid waste
Operations generate solid wastes that must be disposed of. Generation of solid waste will
result from project, factory, and staff quarters activities.
 Mitigation
  Make sure waste is separated to encourage reuse, recycling, waste reduction,
and appropriate disposal methods.
d. Energy consumption
To power and heat the plant, provide lighting, and conduct other operations, the Project
that is proposed will use fossil fuels. The excessive use of fossil fuels, which are not
renewable, could have negative effects on the environment.
 Mitigation
 Choose the minimum lighting level and most effective lighting system design for
the application.
e. Oil, chemicals, and fuel spills
Continuous lubrication of the plant's machinery is necessary to prevent corrosion, but oil
spills could contaminate the soil. Additionally, fuel leaks from combustion processes might
happen.
 Mitigation
 Provide spill emergency kit to help with quick clean-up in the event of a spill and
teach employees how to clean up and contain spills.
f. Noise pollution and vibrations
Equipment used during the production of sugar may become fault and cause loud noise
and vibrations.
 Mitigation
 Regularly ensure maintenance of production machinery to minimise noise.

CONCLUSION
With all mitigation measures taken into account, it is clear from the EIA study report that the project is
environmentally acceptable. Looking at the positive side, it will create jobs for the locals and help
them become more financially stable which is more beneficial when taking into account the minor
impacts the proposed project will have on the environment. It will also improve the production of sugar
and open up opportunities for value-added projects. Even though there will be visible minor impacts
when constructing the plant, there are ways to reduced and mitigated the impacts. All of the negative
impacts have their ratings lowered to low and short-term based on the suggested mitigation
measures, meaning that they will have little effect on the environment.

It is unlikely that the proposed Tongaat sugar production plant will have any significant negative
environmental effects after the mitigation plan is put into place. Most of the impacts will only be
temporary, especially while construction is underway. Implementing the suggested mitigation
measures will allow these effects to be successfully managed to acceptable levels. As a result, the
project's overall advantages greatly outweigh any potential drawbacks.