Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy says she has noted the decision by the North Gauteng High Court to set aside the environmental authorisation for the Thabametsi coal-fired power station.
The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries says it will abide by the order of the court and refer the application for an environmental authorisation back to the chief director: integrated environmental authorisations for review and decision.
The department emphasises that it is committed to ensuring that the Constitutional rights of South Africans to an environment that is not harmful to health and wellbeing are always taken into consideration, while ensuring that economic growth is not hampered.