mmsez_record_of_decision-ba2417220fcfaa0c.pdf

The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) has granted environmental authorisation for the establishment of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) South Site. The authorisation specifically covers the clearance of indigenous vegetation, installation of bulk services infrastructure, and fencing for a metallurgical cluster, reducing the project footprint to 3,862 hectares.

• The Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism granted environmental authorisation for the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) South Site, specifically approving 'Option 2' which reduces the project footprint from 8,022 hectares to 3,862 hectares, representing approximately 48% of the original proposal.
• The scope of the current authorisation is limited to the clearance of 3,862 hectares of indigenous vegetation, the installation of bulk services infrastructure (including water, sewage, and effluent pipelines), and fencing. Any subsequent activities for individual plants or process units require separate environmental authorisations.
• Water supply for the MMSEZ is expected to be a significant challenge. Feasibility reports indicate that demand may be met through water reuse, groundwater exploration, and the purchase of 30 million m³/a of raw water from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) via the Zhove Dam on the Umzingwane River, though this requires complex international negotiations.
• The project is projected to have a substantial economic impact, with 11 Memorandums of Understanding signed with China totaling $4.1 billion for the metallurgical cluster. Employment is estimated to reach 21,000 jobs in the first five years and 51,000 jobs by the tenth year.
• Environmental and heritage constraints include the identification of 19 graves within the project area that must be protected by fencing. Additionally, the site is designated as a Critical Biodiversity Area 2 and Ecological Support Area, requiring the relocation of baobab trees to provincial nature reserves.
• The Specialist Climate Change Assessment Report recommends that the construction of a coal-fired thermal power plant only be approved if it includes a carbon capture and storage unit capable of sequestering all emissions from the start of operations.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). mmsez_record_of_decision-ba2417220fcfaa0c.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MMSEZ_Record_of_Decision.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. mmsez_record_of_decision-ba2417220fcfaa0c.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MMSEZ_Record_of_Decision.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=mmsez_record_of_decision-ba2417220fcfaa0c.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MMSEZ_Record_of_Decision.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrightsndmmsezrecordofdecisionba2417220fcfaa0cpdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{mmsez\_record\_of\_decision-ba2417220fcfaa0c.pdf}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MMSEZ_Record_of_Decision.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }