Coal-driven threats to Limpopo water security: The Makhado SEZ

Join us for an interactive Webinar on Limpopo water security 

You are invited to join an interactive webinar focusing on threats to water resources in the Limpopo North water catchment area of South Africa, as well as an aquifer that we share with two neighbouring countries, primarily as arising from plans for perpetuating our dependence on coal.

This event seeks to attract experts and practitioners in the water sector for robust discussion of potential responses to growing threats to water security, particularly in relation to a proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for minerals and energy development: The Musina-Makhado SEZ. Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha, told an investment conference in October 2019 that water for the SEZ could be brought in from Zimbabwe.

We will begin with a presentation by Dr Victor Munnik, commissioned by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, to investigate the status of water infrastructure development and the viability of large-scale supply for minerals processing. The research highlights a high risk that the proposed extractive industries for export would take water away from households and food production in the short term, and still face the prospect of inadequate supply over the medium term.

The webinar will be recorded for posting on the FES website, intended as a learning resource for stakeholders in water planning and management.

Date:2 June 2020
Time:15h00 – 16h30
Venue: Zoom
RSVP: kulani.mashele(at)fes-southafrica.org for zoom link 

For more information feel free to call the project manager: Richard Worthington: 082 446 6392