# No environmental assessments needed for gas pipeline, water, electricity and solar infrastructure

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/2020/08/23/no-environmental-assessments-needed-for-gas-pipeline-water-electricity-and-solar-infrastructure/
- Published: 2020-08-23T19:18:32+02:00
- Author: dearSA

### Large-scale projects for the roll-out of gas, electricity, solar and other infrastructure projects will be given exemption from the need for environmental authorization in terms of notices gazette by the government on 31 July 2020.

![DearSA-EIA-Exemption](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/
08/20190951/EIA-Exemption.jpg "EIA-Exemption")

This is certain to excite strong opposition from environmental lobby groups which
have laboured for years to enforce compliance with the laws and regulations already
in place.

[Have your say here ](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/eia-exemption/)

But after nearly five months of lockdown, and an estimated 3 million jobs lost, 
authorities are under pressure to fast-track massive infrastructure developments
to get the economy moving again. This has been suggested as one of the possible 
motivations for the proposed exemptions.

The National Environmental Management Act allows the minister to exclude certain
activities and projects from the need to obtain environmental authorisation provided
an “environmental management instrument” is developed that avoids, manages and mitigates
environmental risks associated with the projects.

To all intents and purposes, this is a way of speeding up infrastructure development
without having to go through the often agonising process of undertaking environmental
assessments and approvals. Going through the usual environmental hoops can take 
several years, and that adds to the eventual cost of infrastructural development.

This does not mean, however, that environmental issues are neglected. The “environmental
management instrument” is supposed to take care of that, though there is understandable
suspicion that this may be a way of side-stepping environmental regulations imposed
on all other projects that do not enjoy exemptions.

A series of environmental authorisation exemptions have been proposed that would
cover virtually all major gas pipeline projects currently under consideration. This
is achieved through the adoption of a generic environmental management programme
for gas pipeline infrastructure.

Exemptions are also proposed for electricity transmission and distribution powerline
infrastructure falling within certain geographical areas known as Strategic Transmission
Corridors.

There are five primary corridors (and two extensions) for electricity transmission
and distribution: from Limpopo to Gauteng; Gauteng to the Northern Cape; Gauteng
to the Western Cape; Kwazulu-Natal to the Western Cape; and the Western Cape to 
the Northern Cape. Should more than 10% of the proposed electricity transmission
and distribution powerline infrastructure fall outside these corridors, the entire
project is subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations which were
published in 2014.

A new environmental standard has been developed for these geographical areas which
would exclude electricity transmission and distribution powerline infrastructure
from having to obtain environmental authorisation. The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries
and the Environment has also set management and mitigation standards that would 
exempt landcare, ecosystems and working for water projects from the need to obtain
environmental authorisation.

The public is also being asked to provide input on procedures to be followed when
applying for, and deciding on Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZ).

The opportunity for the public to comment closes on 4 September 2020.