Earthlife Africa protested at the Anglo American Head Office in the centre of Johannesburg Tuesday and was supported by the World Development Movement in London, where protesters picketed in solidarity in front of BlackRock Incorporated, one of the major companies securing funding for Anglo American.
The groups were protesting against Anglo’s planned coal-fired power station in Waterberg, Limpopo, which they said was a joint venture between the company and Indian miner Vedanta Resources.
“The coal Anglo is planning to use for the joint coal-fired power station with Vedanta is of poor quality. And even Eskom deems this coal unfit for their coal-fired power stations,” Earthlife said.
“In addition, Vedanta is a company infamous for their human rights violations in India, destructive business practises and intransparency.”
But in interview with International Online, Anglo spokesman Bheki Khumalo said the company would not be generating electricity from the proposed mine.
“We have prospecting rights, we have not even applied for mining rights yet,” Khumalo said.
He said Vedanta Resources would be buying the coal from the mine and using it to generate power elsewhere.
“Earthlife should actually be protesting against Vedanta, not us. We will not be building a power station. Mining the coal is what we plan to do.”
Earthlife said 1000 activists protested in Johannesburg Tuesday.
