Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

variability of the system, the establishment of an environmental baseline
would be a priority. Without this, accurate discrimination between the
effects of natural system variability and the localised impact of mining
systems would not be possible and the long-term future of the offshore
diamond mining industry could not be secured. Although not required at
the time, DBM (with the support of the Namibian Diamond Corporation
(Pty) Ltd., an equal partnership between De Beers and the Government of
the Republic of Namibia (NAMDEB)) then proactively established an
environmental impact assessment including collection of critical baseline
data during 1991 to protect its own interests and those of other
stakeholders with commercial interest in the marine resources.
2. Environmental Management At De Beers Marine
2.1 Overview Of Namibian Legislative Requirements
The following section briefly summarises the legal obligations
license holders and/or operators are required to fulfil in the context of
Namibian offshore mining operations.
General Obligations to be included in a Pro-forma Environmental
Contract
• Company recognises that its operations may have significant
impacts on the environment and accordingly undertakes every
practicable step necessary to ensure mitigation of such impacts
in liaison with MET, MFMR & MME.
• Undertake necessary and adequate steps to ensure
environmental damage is reduced to a minimum and prevented
insofar as is possible
• Should the Company not carry out its environmental obligations
it shall be liable for the environmental damage which may result
• The Government reserves the right to
• Demand at any time financial or other guarantees to
restore the environment or mitigate environmental
damage
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 619