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Policy & Enforcement News

Enviro reporting, licensing processes to enjoy extended timeframes

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st April 2020 Law firm Webber Wentzel says that, in light of the current restrictions of movement of people in South Africa to curb the spread of Covid-19, various timeframes around environmental applications and others have been extended. Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy on March... →

Covid-19 may exacerbate the abuse of power – Corruption Watch

By: Sane Dhlamini 31st March 2020 Not-for-profit organisation Corruption Watch on Tuesday released its yearly corruption report with executive director David Lewis saying South Africans should not expect corruption to lessen during the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s report is themed “The Writing is on the Wall” and shows... →

Corruption Watch executive director, David Lewis

Staying home most effective way to contain Covid-19 – Ramaphosa

By: Sane Dhlamini 30th March 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday said it was clear that the most effective way for a society to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus is for the population to remain at home and physically isolated from each other for at least several weeks. As South Africa enters day 4 of its national... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Greenpeace opposed to weakening of emission standards

By: Marleny Arnoldi 30th March 2020 Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy last week gazetted the doubling of minimum emission standards (MES) for sulphur dioxide, weakening the limit from 500 mg/Nm3 to 1 000 mg/Nm3. Greenpeace Africa climate and energy campaigner Bukelwa Nzimande has responded negatively to... →

Lack of port development a concern

By: Tracy Hancock 27th March 2020 While there is some movement in the development of South Africa’s port infrastructure by the private sector, the overall stagnation of its development is concerning, law firm Bowmans ports, transport and logistics head Andrew Pike tells Engineering News. He says this lack of activity may largely... →

ANDREW PIKE The Port of Durban is often congested with trucks that should be transporting up to five or more containers a day but only manage one, if lucky

Industry reaction to Minister’s call for higher levels of clean-coal investment

By: Mamaili Mamaila 27th March 2020 There is much scepticism domestically and internationally about the potential for clean-coal technology (CCT). In South Africa, however, there has been an amplification in recent months of calls for accelerated efforts to be made to finding innovative solutions to the serious environmental and... →

Photo by GE
POWER PLANT OPTIMISATION Eskom’s Kusile power station’s use of the wet flue gas desulphurisation technology ensures lower emissions

Greenpeace against granting of MES compliance postponement to Eskom

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd March 2020 South Africa’s National Air Quality Officer Dr Thuli Khumalo’s decision on Eskom’s application for a postponement from complying with the Minimum Emission Standards (MES) at the end of this month could have implications as far reaching as the country’s water security, says Greenpeace Africa.... →

Carbon storage vital to chemicals projects

By: Cameron Mackay 13th March 2020 With the global drive to meet climate targets and mitigate the devastating effects of climate change, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a vital emissions reduction technology for the chemicals and petrochemicals industry, says international think-tank Global CCS Institute advocacy and... →

Photo by Bloomberg
DECARBONISING INDUSTRY Efforts from government and industry are needed to address carbon emissions from chemical and petrochemical production and the use and disposal of chemical products

M&R confirms coronavirus-linked disruptions at two project sites

By: Terence Creamer 5th March 2020 Specialist engineering and construction group Murray & Roberts (M&R) has initiated a study into the potential health and commercial effects of the coronavirus, or Covid-19, on its projects and people, confirming on Thursday that the outbreak was already affecting project delivery in South Africa... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Murray & Roberts CEO Henry Laas

Standard Bank releases policy on lending to thermal coal mining projects

By: Simone Liedtke 5th March 2020 Financial services provider Standard Bank has released its Thermal Coal Mining Policy, making it the first South African bank to publicly release a policy on lending to coal mining projects. This follows a landmark shareholder vote in favour of a climate risk-related shareholder resolution which... →

Medupi's killer fumes: The story of a power station's missing air scrubbers

By: News24Wire 3rd March 2020 Eskom's megapower station Medupi is suffocating South Africa in more ways than one: It is not just a financial black hole; it is also a health and environmental catastrophe. And the installation of crucial technology to make it less poisonous has once again been delayed. For years, Eskom has... →

Govt working on environmental fiscal reform paper, as carbon tax increases 5.6%

By: Simone Liedtke 26th February 2020 The National Treasury on Wednesday confirmed that government was preparing to publish an environmental fiscal reform review paper. The paper will explore the potential for new environmental taxes and reforms to existing instruments, such as restructuring the general fuel levy to include a local... →

Eskom faces closure threat at biggest working power plant

By: Bloomberg 25th February 2020 Eskom Holdings is battling to keep all the units of its biggest operational power plant open after being served with a compliance notice by South Africa’s environment ministry because of its high levels of air pollution. The indebted power utility has failed to fully repair pollution-abatement... →

Cape Town adds more energy to Indaba

By: Cameron Mackay 21st February 2020 The decision to host this year’s Africa Energy Indaba at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on March 3 and 4, rather than in Johannesburg, where it was hosted previously, has resulted in increased interest from African and global delegates to attend the event, says Africa Energy Indaba... →

ENERGISING AFRICA The sub-Saharan and East African regions will feature strongly at the indaba as electricity demand in these regions, and the rest of Africa, is growing

New energy paradigm can drive Africa’s development

By: Schalk Burger 21st February 2020 Africa can meet its major sustainable energy and development goals without becoming more energy intensive, as it has a unique opportunity to use renewable energy, natural gas and energy efficiency to meet its development needs and provide reliable and modern energy services. This is the... →

Energy institute to focus on IRP at Indaba

By: Cameron Mackay 21st February 2020 The publication of the long-awaited Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) in October last year will be a significant focus area for State-owned energy researcher the South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) at this year’s Africa Energy Indaba. “The publication of the IRP provides... →

BARRY BREDENKAMP We certainly don’t have to re-invent the wheel, there are many African countries doing exceptional work in this area, and we can learn from them

LED company aims to benefit from trade agreement at Indaba

By: Cameron Mackay 21st February 2020 This year’s Africa Energy Indaba will provide light-emitting-diode (LED) technology provider Grandstage Trading with opportunities to explore how it will achieve its objectives through the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which will be a significant topic... →

CHRISTINE MASAITI An important factor of the discussions at the indaba which could be of great benefit is encouraging the public to move to LED lighting technology

Adam Habib resigns as Wits Vice-Chancellor

By: Sane Dhlamini 18th February 2020 Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand Adam Habib has announced his resignation from the university at the end of December this year, after seven years at the helm. He will be joining the School of Oriental and African Studies, or SOAS, in London, as director, from... →

Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand, Adam Habib

Kruger National Park urges stakeholders to protect the Sabie river

By: Yvonne Silaule 14th February 2020 Representatives from the Kruger National Park, a South African National Parks (SANParks) reserve, this week met with the traditional leaders of Bushbuckridge, to strengthen water education and to ensure that water is used sparingly in order to preserve the Sabie river. Kruger National Park... →

Skills shortage plagues natural refrigerant sector

By: Darren Parker 14th February 2020 One of the most pertinent issues facing the local heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) industry is the lack of specialised skills needed for the systematic adoption of natural refrigerants in place of traditional synthetic refrigerants. Heightened pressure on... →

SNEAKY LEAKS Refrigeration systems charged with odourless CO2 need to be monitored with sensors to ensure leaks do not compromise air quality in enclosed spaces

Renewed call to ban disposable cylinders

By: Darren Parker 14th February 2020 Despite various heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) industry participants contesting the banning of disposable gas cylinders in South Africa for years, there is no indication of a decision on the matter being reached. South African Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning... →

TIME TO SCRAP THIS PRACTICE Disposed cylinders create about 3 150 m3 scrap metal and can explode if not thoroughly evacuated

Refrigerant recovery service set for expansion

By: Darren Parker 14th February 2020 Speciality chemicals supplier A-Gas South Africa is planning to expand its rapid recovery refrigerant service nationally this year. This follows the appointment of A-Gas business development manager Grant McGill in September last year. →

IT’S A GAS The Rapid Recovery service is up to ten times faster than traditional refrigerant recovery methods

Smart drones to be tested in battle against East Africa locust swarms

By: Reuters 11th February 2020 The United Nations (UN) is to test drones equipped with mapping sensors and atomizers to spray pesticides in parts of east Africa battling an invasion of desert locusts that are ravaging crops and exacerbating a hunger crisis. Hundreds of millions of the voracious insects have swept across... →

Greenpeace Africa calls on Ramaphosa to raise climate agenda in Africa

By: Marleny Arnoldi 10th February 2020 Environmental organisation Greenpeace Africa has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to harness his diplomatic skills and promote a pan-African response to the climate crisis in his new capacity as African Union chairperson. The African continent faces the highest risk from the climate and... →

Devices assist to combat sick building syndrome

7th February 2020 Monitoring devices that are able to detect high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) have been introduced to the local market to help detect poor air quality that can lead to sick building syndrome. Sick building syndrome refers to the condition affecting office workers, typically marked by headaches... →

NO PLACE TO HIDE The devices allows operators to easily monitor carbon dioxide levels

Kruger National Park sets traps for tree-killing beetles

By: Yvonne Silaule 6th February 2020 Game reserve, the Kruger National Park, has warned tourists and residents from local communities to burn wood in the locality of where they find it to avoid the spread of the polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB), a type of beetle that has been spreading across South Africa and killing trees. The... →

Kendal given another two months to comply with air-pollution standards

By: Terence Creamer 31st January 2020 State-owned power utility Eskom reported on Friday that it had received a letter from Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy granting its emissions-breaching Kendal power station another two months to comply with the country’s minimum emission standards (MES). Kendal has been... →

Association records growth despite struggling economy

24th January 2020 Despite a struggling economy, the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (Sappma) reported a growth in membership and influence last year. →

DIVERSE OFFERING In addition to its hugely successful annual PIPES technical conference, Sappma has also begun hosting regular workshops for both members and non-members alike that focus on different aspects of quality

Auto industry seen consolidating as falling demand, higher costs bite

By: Reuters 23rd January 2020 The auto industry faces further consolidation and jobs will migrate to lower-cost countries as companies struggle to develop cleaner vehicles in an economic downturn, European Auto Industry (ACEA) president Mike Manley said on Wednesday. Tighter emission rules introduced in the wake of... →

Minister extends deadline for mines to meet financial provisioning regulations

By: Simone Liedtke 20th January 2020 The long-awaited notice extending the transitional timeframe for compliance with the Financial Provisioning Regulations of 2015 has been published by Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy. In terms of the extension notice, the applicable Mineral and Petroleum Resources... →

Green Scorpions deadline looms for Eskom’s emissions-breaching Kendal power station

By: Terence Creamer 15th January 2020 State-owned electricity utility Eskom, which is struggling to keep the lights on as a result of high levels of unplanned breakdowns across its coal fleet, could be forced to shut down units at the Kendal power station at the end of January unless ongoing noncompliance with the country’s minimum... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Kendal power station

Growth initiatives to continue in 2020 as new laws come into effect

By: Simone Liedtke 9th January 2020 Initiatives to drive growth and stabilise the economy will continue to be a focus in the coming year, especially as efforts to root out corruption and State capture progress, law firm Webber Wentzel says. Robust corporate governance for listed companies will also remain a focus area for the JSE,... →

Pleading for leniency, Eskom wants to slash emissions by 2035

By: Bloomberg 9th January 2020 Power utility Eskom, South Africa’s biggest polluter, said it will slash emissions of three major pollutants by 2035 while it asks for exemptions to incoming standards to avoid as much as R37-billion in expenditure. The State-owned utility projected that by 2035, as plants reach the end of their... →

Development institutions help African countries align with global sustainability plans

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th December 2019 Three development institutions have partnered to present a digital application at the Conference Of the Parties 25 climate conference, in Madrid, this week, to help African countries that are grappling with implementing key global initiatives. The United Nations Development Programme, the... →

Additional renewable energy development zones proposed

13th December 2019 The second phase of the Strategic Environmental Assessment for wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy in South Africa proposes three additional renewable energy development zones for wind and solar PV energy projects. The renewable energy development zones support the responsible implementation... →

RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ZONES The Phase 2 proposed zones support the responsible implementation of the Integrated Resource Plan 2019

Eskom wants emission exemptions

By: Bloomberg 12th December 2019 Eskom Holdings, South Africa’s biggest polluter, has asked for additional emission exemptions at two of its biggest plants, a request that will increase environmental protests against the State-owned utility at a time when it’s already being slammed for rolling power cuts. Eskom, which is... →

Cool coatings can help make living in low-cost buildings more bearable

By: Schalk Burger 6th December 2019 Cool coating technologies, also known as cool surfaces, can play a key role in making human settlements more energy efficient and sustainable, and buildings more habitable, says research institution South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) energy efficiency cool surfaces... →

!KHEIS COATING Local youth cover a roof in cool coating in Groblershoop, in the !Kheis municipality in the Northern Cape

Topics In These Articles

PROJECT Resources Tourism Africa Coal Energy Environment Health Petrochemicals Power SECURITY Technology Water Global Ccs Institute International Energy Agency Lanzatech Samancor Chome Swayana Inductotherm Thomas Foundry Castings Metso Transnet Africa Energy Indaba Concrete Gas Ghana Indaba Projects Solar ... more

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