The Green Connection has welcomed the decision by the Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Environment (DFFE) to refuse the environmental authorisation for a Karpowership project in Coega, Eastern Cape.
The announcement comes after the DFFE earlier suspended the application for environmental authorisation for Karpowerships in Saldanha Bay pending an investigation into allegations of a failure to ensure compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations.
“We are happy that the Department is investigating our complaint and are confident that they will find in our favour. And while we are somewhat confused by the Environmental Assessment Practitioner’s (EAP) decision to withdraw the application in Richards Bay, hopefully this signifies the end of the Karpowership saga. Hopefully, now authorities can focus on bringing affordable and appropriate energy to the grid, to address the load shedding.”
According to a statement issued by the DFFE on 6 March 2023, the government had received correspondence from The Green Connection about the Saldanha Bay project, alleging suspected non-compliance with Regulation 13 of the EIA Regulations by the appointed Environmental Assessment Practitioner.
“As a result, the application has been suspended by the competent authority so that the veracity of the allegations can be probed. Letters have been issued to the EAP for Karpowership-SA and to The Green Connection. The decision on this application will be based on the outcome of the investigation,” the DFFE said.
The DFFE added that the EAP involved with the Karpowership application for the Port of Richards Bay had submitted a letter to the department on 2 March 2023 to withdraw the final EIA report dated 6 January 2023.
“The withdrawal is based on an urgent application by the EAP for condonation to comply with regulatory timeframes in terms of Section 47C of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) submitted to Minister Creecy on 24 February 2023. This application is currently under consideration,” said the DFFE.
The Green Connection said it was confident that the department would find in its favour after its investigation.
