2014-05-30-fa12-s21-project-final-revew-report-ec28195dda07a12e.pdf

This document consists of a final review report and supporting meeting minutes and submissions regarding the implementation of listed activities and minimum emission standards (MES) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (AQA) of 2004 in South Africa. It proposes a phased approach to setting emission standards based on Best Available Technology (BAT), identifies priority industry sectors for initial listing, and discusses the establishment of national ambient air quality standards to protect public health and the environment.

• The report recommends a phased, stepped approach to setting emission standards to ensure focused regulatory efforts and the development of an experienced regulator. This process involves establishing sector teams to consult with industry, identifying key industries and pollutants, collating guidance on best available technology (BAT), and conducting periodic reviews of the standards.
• A proposed initial list of industry sectors for prioritised national emission standard setting includes combustion installations (coal, gas, biomass, liquid fuel), the petroleum industry (petrochemical production and refining), carbonisation and coal gasification, the metallurgical industry (including aluminium, iron, steel, and various smelters), the mineral processing industry (cement, lime, glass, ceramics), organic and inorganic chemical industries, incineration processes, the wood products industry, and animal matter processing (tanning and slaughtering).
• The report suggests that national minimum emission standards should be based on Best Available Technology (BAT), adopting the European Union's definition. BAT is defined as the most effective and advanced stage of development of activities and their operation methods that are practically suitable for providing the basis for emission limit values to prevent or reduce emissions and environmental impact.
• To manage the economic impact of new standards, the report recommends a differentiated compliance timeframe based on the age of the facility: 2 to 3 years for new or substantially modified facilities, and 5 to 10 years for existing facilities. It also suggests allowing case-by-case extensions if an air pollution impact assessment demonstrates that emissions are not causing adverse environmental impacts.
• The Chemicals and Allied Industries Association (CAIA) expressed significant concerns regarding the proposed standards, arguing that they were based on international best practice without considering South African realities. CAIA asserted that the Minister could be vulnerable to legal challenges if the list of activities was published without a proper assessment of social and economic conditions as required by Section 21 of the AQA.
• The document outlines a paradigm shift in South African air quality management, moving from individual source-based controls under the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act (APPA) to an 'objectives based approach' under the AQA. This approach uses ambient air quality standards as benchmarks to define what is not harmful to health and well-being and to trigger governance interventions.
• The 2007 National Framework for Air Quality Management establishes a tiered system for implementing ambient standards, categorizing areas into zones: Green (Class 1, within target levels), Blue (Class 2, within alert levels), Purple (Class 3, within standards but requiring sustained intervention), Orange (Class 4, possible threat requiring immediate intervention), and Red (Class 5, non-compliant areas that must be declared priority areas).
• The report recommends that emission standards be expressed as either an emission concentration or a performance standard (e.g., pollutant mass per unit of production), or a combination of both. It suggests that total permissible emission masses be included in individual Atmospheric Emissions Licenses rather than in general national standards.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). 2014-05-30-fa12-s21-project-final-revew-report-ec28195dda07a12e.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA12-S21-Project-Final-Revew-Report.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. 2014-05-30-fa12-s21-project-final-revew-report-ec28195dda07a12e.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA12-S21-Project-Final-Revew-Report.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=2014-05-30-fa12-s21-project-final-revew-report-ec28195dda07a12e.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA12-S21-Project-Final-Revew-Report.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsnd20140530fa12s21projectfinalrevewreportec28195dda07a12epdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{2014-05-30-fa12-s21-project-final-revew-report-ec28195dda07a12e.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA12-S21-Project-Final-Revew-Report.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }