This post hereby serves as an update on the gazetting process for the Gas Pipeline and Electricity Grid Infrastructure (EGI) Expansion Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). As noted in July and August 2020, the following gazettes were released by the DEFF for comment:
- Government Gazette 43528, Government Notice 787, Date: 17 July 2020 – Consultation on the intention to identify seven geographical areas, which are of strategic importance when planning for the development of electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, in terms of Section 24(3) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998).
- Government Gazette 43528, Government Notice 788, Date: 17 July 2020 – Consultation on the intention to identify geographical areas which are of strategic importance when planning gas transmission pipeline infrastructure, in terms of Section 24(3) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998).
- Government Gazette 43571, Government Notice 834, Date: 31 July 2020 – Consultation on the intention to publish as an environmental management instrument in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), a draft Generic Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) for Gas Transmission Pipeline Infrastructure (2020) relevant to an application for environmental authorisation for gas transmission pipeline infrastructure.
- Government Gazette 43571, Government Notice 835, Date: 31 July 2020 – Consultation on the intention to adopt a standard for the development of electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure within identified geographical areas and the exclusion of this infrastructure from the requirement to obtain an environmental authorisation.
- Government Gazette 43571, Government Notice 836, Date: 31 July 2020 – Consultation on the intention to identify, in terms of sections 24(5)(a) and (b) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) and regulation 15(2) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014, as amended, procedures to be followed when applying for or deciding on an environmental authorisation for the development or expansion of underground gas transmission pipeline infrastructure when occurring in Strategic Gas Pipeline Corridors published in the Government Gazette.
The DEFF has hereby extended the comment period for Government Notices 787 and 788 in Government Gazette 43528 of 17 July 2020 and Government Notices 834, 835, and 836 in Government Gazette 43571 of 31 July 2020, to 4 September 2020.
Members of the public are invited to submit written comments or input directly to the DEFF, by 4 September 2020. Details of the process regarding comment submission can be found in the abovementioned Government Gazette. A copy of the Government Gazette has been placed on the homepage of the project website: https://gasnetwork.csir.co.za/
Stakeholders are encouraged to follow the publications in the Government Gazette, as well as the DEFF website, for further details on the gazetting process.
The Gas Pipeline and EGI Expansion SEA Team would like to thank all stakeholders for their participation in this process.