Commenting on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for oil and gas projects

This toolkit provides guidance for interested and affected persons (I&APs) and communities in South Africa on how to participate in and submit comments during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for oil and gas projects.

• South African law grants interested and affected persons (I&APs), including local communities, the right to provide input on how oil and gas drilling off the coastline may affect sea life, seawater, and coastal livelihoods.
• Before exploration or drilling can commence, companies must obtain an Environmental Authorisation (EA), which requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
• The EIA process is divided into two main phases: the Scoping Phase and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Phase, both of which include calls for public comments.
• Final EIA reports, incorporating public comments, are used by local or national government decision-makers to determine whether to grant environmental authorisation for a project.
• The guide suggests that commenters consider a wide range of impacts, including effects on livelihoods, health, ocean access, animal species movement, cultural and spiritual practices, climate change, and the interests of future generations.

APA

Natural Justice (2025). Commenting on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for oil and gas projects. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Toolkit-EIA-Comments_Aug-25.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. Commenting on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for oil and gas projects. 2025. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Toolkit-EIA-Comments_Aug-25.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=Commenting on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for oil and gas projects |date=September 2025 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Toolkit-EIA-Comments_Aug-25.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljustice2025commenting, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{Commenting on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for oil and gas projects}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2025}, month = sep, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Toolkit-EIA-Comments_Aug-25.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }