- Speaking at a media briefing ahead of her department’s Budget Vote in parliament this week, South Africa’s Environment Minister, Barbara Creecy, reports that she has written to provincial MECs offering assistance in processing environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for embedded-generation projects.
The country’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr Gwede Mantashe, increase the generation allowance threshold from 1MW to 100MW in August last year paving the way for large commercial and industrial electricity users to produce or procure their own electricity from independent power producers for own use.
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“With regard to the EIA for the 100 MW projects, I have written to all the MECs (of the various provinces) and I have said to them that we can assist them to fast-track the EIAs or, if they are agreeable, we can actually take over the EIAs for these projects. I’m waiting to hear what their preference is, but I have emphasised to them that these are extremely urgent projects,” said Creecy.
She added that her department would target only those administrations that required additional support.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
