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Policy & Enforcement News

TNPA to review hull cleaning permits

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd May 2019 The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) intends to introduce in-water hull cleaning at South African ports in an effort to stringently manage biofouling, where marine organisms attach themselves to the hull of a ship and niche areas, potentially spreading alien and invasive species across... →

Court date set for Cape Metro's bid to buy power directly from IPPs

By: African News Agency 22nd May 2019 The City of Cape Town on Tuesday welcomed the high court in Pretoria setting a date for its petition to buy electricity directly from independent power producers (IPPs). The City wants the Energy Minister and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to allow it to purchase power from... →

Agri SA launches court proceedings against granting of shale gas exploration rights

By: Simone Liedtke 7th May 2019 Agricultural organisation Agri SA has launched court proceedings in the Pretoria High Court against the granting of environmental authorisations and explorations rights for shale gas to Africa-focused oil and gas exploration and development company Rhino Oil and Gas. Although the authorized... →

groundWork opposing Minister’s plan to weaken air pollution standards

By: Simone Liedtke 6th May 2019 Environmental justice group groundWork, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights, has launched High Court proceedings against Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane and President Cyril Ramaphosa and is asking the court to set aside government’s plan to double the amount of... →

Green chemistry requires whole value chain approach

By: Schalk Burger 3rd May 2019 Green chemistry requires that the entire value chain be considered to ensure that the use and reclamation or disposal of chemicals are economically feasible, says multinational specialty chemicals producer Clariant South Africa head Nicol Meyer. Clariant’s local clients are receptive to using... →

NICOL MEYER Companies must engage customers and consumers to ensure that demand and practices are aligned to green chemistry practices

Global deforestation cut enough trees last year to cover Belgium

By: Bloomberg 25th April 2019 The world’s old-growth rainforests are shrinking at an alarming rate, with enough trees lost last year to cover all of Belgium or two Connecticuts, a new report shows. Tropical rainforests are found mainly in Equatorial countries, but they store vast amounts of carbon dioxide, so keeping them... →

Corruption has eroded pillars of democracy – report

By: Sane Dhlamini 10th April 2019 While South Africans commemorate the late freedom fighter Chris Hani, who was assassinated 26 years ago, civil society organisation Corruption Watch on Wednesday released a report on how corruption has eroded the pillars of democracy. This comes before South Africans cast their votes on May 8 in... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Corruption Watch executive director, David Lewis

Tanzania to ban single-use plastics by July - Environment Minister

By: Reuters 8th April 2019 Tanzania plans to ban the production, importation, sale and use of all single-use plastic bags by July, to help tackle pollution from non-biodegradable waste. The East African nation is the latest country to make a formal commitment to phase out single-use non-biodegradable plastics, which have... →

Digital tech can improve client and project interaction

By: Cameron Mackay 5th April 2019 Professional services firm WSP is finding more opportunities to use emerging digital technologies in delivering engineering and infrastructure projects globally, points out WSP in Africa MD Mathieu du Plooy. This involves the managing of information and data, designing and collaboration efforts... →

MATHIEU DU PLOOY WSP’s focus on the African continent is more sector-based than geographical. We will follow the countries where the need is pressing

Consulting firm shifts to public-sector partner role

By: Cameron Mackay 5th April 2019 Multinational engineering consultancy Aurecon sees a need to shift the group’s role from that of consultant for engineering design and delivery to being more of a partner to government, specifically in the capacity of adviser and decision-maker on important infrastructural challenges. This will... →

GREEN BUILDINGS The next for green buildings will be the integration the Internet of Things and consistent use of technology through the life cycle of an asset

Call made for fundamental changes to way societies manage chemicals

By: Schalk Burger 5th April 2019 While manufactured chemicals have helped to improve human health, food security, productivity and quality of life worldwide, sound management and innovations in chemistry are essential for sustainable development. This was the central message of UN Environment acting executive director and... →

Environmental plan for South African segment of SKA radio telescope gazetted

By: Rebecca Campbell 5th April 2019 The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (Sarao) has announced that the Integrated Environmental Management Plan (IEMP) for the Phase 1 of the Square Kilometre Array mid-frequency array (SKA1_MID) was gazetted recently by Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane. The SKA is an... →

Education important for future of industry – Cesa

By: Cameron Mackay 5th April 2019 Consulting engineering association Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) president Neresh Pather says introducing new technology subjects at technical high schools will play a critical role in preparing future generations for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the general consulting... →

Consulting Engineers South Africa president Neresh Pather & Gauteng Road & Transport MEC Dr Ismail Vadi discuss education and technology in consulting engineering. Camerawork and Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Environmental plan for South African segment of SKA radio telescope gazetted

By: Rebecca Campbell 26th March 2019 The Integrated Environmental Management Plan (IEMP) for the Phase 1 of the Square Kilometre Array mid-frequency array (SKA1_MID) was gazetted by Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane on Friday, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (Sarao) announced on Monday. The SKA is an... →

Photo by Sarao
An artist’s impression of the core of the South African segment of the SKA

Greenpeace opposes Eskom’s application to postpone air quality legislation compliance

By: Simone Liedtke 19th March 2019 Nonprofit organisation Greenpeace Africa on Tuesday reaffirmed its opposition to State-owned Eskom’s application for further postponements and/or suspensions from air quality legislation. The organisation explained that, in the interests of realising the Constitutional right to a healthy... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Greenpeace global air pollution unit lead analyst Lauri Myllyvirta

Greenpeace Africa says Eskom’s MES postponement application draws false conclusions

By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th March 2019 Environmental organisation Greenpeace Africa said on Monday that power utility Eskom was misleading the public and decisionmakers by underestimating the health impacts of its coal-fired power stations, in a bid to avoid compliance with air-quality legislation. Greenpeace was responding to the... →

South Africa pushes ahead with ocean monitoring satellite programme

By: News24Wire 28th February 2019 The government, through the Department of Science and Technology, has affirmed a further commitment to the Maritime Domain Awareness satellite programme. In addition to funding of R16.5-million, the department will pump another R27-million into the programme over the next three years, department... →

AHR Expo showcases excitement at HVAC global market expansion

22nd February 2019 The latest advancements in technology and product advancement in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry were on display during the three-day 2019 AHR Expo that took place last month from 14 to 16 January in Atlanta in the US. For the first time since 2001, 1 824 companies... →

ENERGY FOR FUTURE OF HVAC The HVACR industry is in a exciting position at the moment and that energy was evident on the Show Floor this year

Unregistered HVAC practitioners still a threat to industry – Saracca

By: Cameron Mackay 22nd February 2019 Despite improvement in the number of people who are obtaining training and qualifications to become registered refrigeration gas practitioners, the number of air conditioner installers without an authorised refrigeration gas practitioner registration licence, or with a fraudulent certification,... →

Photo by Hot Mustard
VITAL QUALIFICATIONS There are many employment opportunities for those trained and certified practitioners who are compliant

Another fuel levy increase lies ahead, carbon tax to be implemented

By: Simone Liedtke 20th February 2019 A carbon tax on fuel of 9c/l on petrol and 10c/l on diesel will become effective from June 5, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said on Wednesday. Further, the general fuel levy will increase by 15c/l for petrol and diesel from April 3, while the Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy will be increased by... →

Event set to dissect the future of African energy

By: Paige Müller 15th February 2019 The eleventh edition of the Africa Energy Indaba – which will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, from February 19 to 20 this year – will focus on the future prospects and direction of energy on the African continent from an energy provision and investment point of view.... →

Photo by Duane Daws
AFRICA’S ENERGY FUTURE The Africa Energy Indaba will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, from February 19 and 20 this year

Sanbi provides R4m towards stopping illegal vegetation clearing in Cape Winelands

By: Marleny Arnoldi 14th February 2019 The South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) has provided the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning with R4.1-million in funding to help combat the illegal clearing of indigenous vegetation in the Cape Winelands district. The illegal clearing... →

Photo by Reuters
Karoo

Threat for rhinos still remains despite drop in 2018 poaching numbers

By: African News Agency 14th February 2019 The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says it remains concerned about the overall status of rhino populations despite official figures from the department of environmental affairs showing the number of those killed in South Africa dropped to 769 in 2018 from 1 028 in 2017. "The fact that fewer... →

Precious metal refiners face new LBMA environmental standard

By: Martin Creamer 7th February 2019 The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) has launched a new standard that addresses environmental as well as sustainability issues in gold and silver markets. To do that in a credible way, LBMA has been actively engaging with mining companies and producer nations. →

LBMA CE Ruth Crowell tells Mining Weekly's Martin Creamer about the association's efforts to improve environmental and sustainability within the gold and silver mining and refining sectors. Video and editing: Nicholas Boyd.

SAIIA, Brookings launch Foresight Africa report

By: Sane Dhlamini 28th January 2019 The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Brookings Institution’s Africa Growth Initiative (AGI) launched the Foresight Africa report on Monday, in Johannesburg, highlighting the top priorities for the continent in 2019. AGI senior fellow and director Brahima Coulibaly... →

AGI senior fellow and director Brahima Coulibaly & ISS senior research consultant Liesl Louw-Vaudran on the Foresight Africa report (Camera: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Christo Greyling)

UCT researchers selected for research hubs to address global challenges

By: Sashnee Moodley 24th January 2019 Funding agency United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) have selected University of Cape Town (UCT) researchers to establish research hubs at UK universities, to tackle some of the development challenges facing the world. The hubs offer five... →

Partnership for Action on the Green Economy conference starts this week in Cape Town

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th January 2019 Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane will host, on January 10 and 11, the Partnership for Action on the Green Economy (Page) Ministerial conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. She said in a statement issued on Tuesday that hosting the Page conference would... →

Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane

Delays in biofuel framework hinder industry

By: Paige Müller 7th December 2018 Despite the local sugar industry championing a bioethanol fuel subsidy as a potential method to relieve the burden on sugar through demand diversification, Ethanol Producers Association of Southern Africa secretary, Alf Stevens, suggests that this may not have the timely impact that the local... →

Photo by Bloomberg
SLOW PROGRESS Even if the Biofuels Regulatory Framework is attractive, the first ethanol for biofuel would only reach the petrol blenders by the end of 2021 at the earliest

China’s BRI translating its influence into trade, development and cultural engagements with global South

By: Schalk Burger 7th December 2018 The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is an infrastructure development and integration initiative championed and mainly funded by China, has emerged as a conduit for translating China's growing influence into trade, development and cultural engagements and partnership with the global South.... →

DEA to appoint sulphur dioxide emissions expert panel

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th December 2018 Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane will appoint a panel of experts to provide strategic and technical guidance on the effective management of sulphur dioxide from old and existing power generation plants. The decision to appoint a panel comes as a result of the challenges faced by... →

Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane

Mpumalanga remains under strain as water pollution continues

By: Simone Liedtke 4th December 2018 Residents of Mpumalanga remain concerned about sewage spillages and wastewater challenges. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has received complaints about alleged sewage spillages and/or the inadequate treatment of wastewater. →

The final frontier: who owns the oceans and their hidden treasures?

By: Reuters 4th December 2018 Ransom-hungry pirates, polar explorers, offshore oil giants - the race for the riches of the world's final frontier is on. From Thailand to Alaska, the battle to tap ever-dwindling resources from minerals to fish is spurring new conflicts over who has the right to the treasures of the deep seas. →

Court sets aside decision permitting mining in protected area

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 30th November 2018 The North Gauteng High Court earlier this month set aside a 2016 decision of former Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane and late Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa that permitted a new coal mine to be developed in the Mabola protected environment, in Mpumalanga. Under the... →

CHRISTINE REDDELL The Centre for Environmental Rights has been continuously campaigning for administrative penalties to be introduced as part of South African environmental law

Nema to ensure mines are held accountable, adhere to legal duties – law firm

By: Simone Liedtke 27th November 2018 The gazetting of the overhauled National Environment Management Act (Nema) will ensure more mines are held accountable and meet their obligations in terms of financial provisioning for environmental rehabilitation, says law firm Webber Wentzel environment and natural resources partner Garyn... →

Webber Wentzel environment and natural resources partner Garyn Rapson

Carbon Tax Bill provides for tax-free allowances of up to 95%, but concern over impact persists

By: Terence Creamer 22nd November 2018 South Africa’s National Treasury has included several transitional tax-free allowances in the Carbon Tax Bill tabled in Parliament this week. The allowances will result in an effective carbon tax rate of between R6/t and R48/t for carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) emissions released by industrial... →

Countries urged to embrace greener energy sources

By: Simone Liedtke 21st November 2018 Amid rising global energy demand, University of the Witwatersrand visiting adjunct professor Adam Luckos urges developing countries to embrace greener energy principles. To do this without jeopardising economic growth, he suggests that developing countries, where coal is the most viable... →

Photo by Dylan Slater
University of the Witwatersrand visiting adjunct professor Adam Luckos

Vaal River pollution: 'There have been challenges to compliance', Sasol says

By: News24Wire 21st November 2018 Petrochemicals giant Sasol has denied that it is responsible for pollution in the Vaal river. However, it has admitted struggling to interpret some compliance requirements with regard to regulations on the discharge of waste. According to a report by the Department of Water and Sanitation... →

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