Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing document records the outcomes of a meeting between the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) regarding the draft regulations for activities resulting in atmospheric emissions that may have detrimental environmental effects. The meeting focused on refining definitions, compliance timeframes, and specific emission standards across various industrial categories to ensure they are based on justifiable reasoning and ambient air quality standards.

A June 2012 submission by the Natref refinery to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) regarding proposed Minimum Emission Standards (MES). Natref argues that inflexible national point source emission standards are impractical for existing facilities and proposes a 'bubble' approach to emissions management to ensure socio-economic sustainability and energy security.

This report by Sasol outlines the company's proposal to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) regarding hydrogen sulphide (H2S) emission standards for its Synfuels facility in Secunda. Sasol argues that the published 2010 standard of 1,000 mg/Nm³ is unachievable within the required timeframes due to technical constraints, the uniqueness of the Sasol process, and market limitations for sulphuric acid. The company proposes alternative standards based on stack averaging and specific points of compliance to ensure practical and sustainable air quality improvement.

This October 2012 submission from the Natref refinery to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) argues that the proposed Minimum Emission Standards (MES) are technically and socio-economically unsustainable for existing inland refineries. Natref advocates for a "bubble" approach to emissions management rather than a point-source approach and requests separate, less stringent limits for existing facilities compared to new plants.

This document is a revised submission by Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) providing detailed comments and proposed amendments to a draft Notice regarding activities resulting in atmospheric emissions. BUSA argues that the proposed emission limits and compliance timeframes are often technically and financially unfeasible, potentially harming the economic viability of the industrial and mining sectors during a period of manufacturing decline.

This briefing document outlines technical and regulatory issues arising from a May 15, 2013, workshop between the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and industry stakeholders regarding the Section 21 emission standards. It focuses on refining activity descriptions, adjusting emission limits for specific industrial processes, and addressing the legal and practical implications of including 'use of' and 'storage' in the listed activities.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted comments on the revised draft Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) for the Nkangala District Municipality (NDM). The CER argues that the plan is overly ambitious given the NDM's lack of capacity and resources, fails to align with the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) AQMP, and contains significant technical errors in its air quality modelling and data.

The Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) and groundWork have appealed a decision by the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) to grant ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) postponements and alternative emission limits for Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) at its Vanderbijlpark facility. The appellants argue that the granted limits are unlawfully weaker than existing plant standards and that AMSA's history of environmental non-compliance makes it unfit to receive such leniency.

A letter from the South African Department of Environmental Affairs to ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited (Newcastle Steel Works) detailing the National Air Quality Officer's decisions regarding applications for alternative limits and the postponement of compliance time-frames for minimum emission standards under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004.

A statement from the South African Department of Environmental Affairs to the Amajuba District Municipality regarding the application by ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited (Newcastle Steel Works) for alternative limits or postponed compliance with the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 minimum emission standards.

A decision letter from the South African Department of Environmental Affairs granting ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited (Pretoria Steel Works) a suspension of compliance time-frames for specific minimum emission standards under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 for the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2030.

A statement from the South African Department of Environmental Affairs granting ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited (Pretoria Steel Works) a suspension of compliance time-frames for certain minimum emission standards under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 for the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2030.

A decision letter from the South African Department of Environmental Affairs to the Sedibeng District Municipality regarding the application by ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited (Vanderbijlpark Steel Works) for alternative emission limits or postponed compliance time-frames under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004.

This document is a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data submission for the period of 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018, provided by African Rainbow Minerals Limited on 29 March 2019.

A cover letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitting formal comments on the draft Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) and Air Quality Management By-law for the Nkangala District Municipality on behalf of the Highveld Environmental Justice Network, groundWork, and Earthlife Africa, Johannesburg.

This document consists of an internal appeal filed by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) on behalf of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) and the subsequent ruling by the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. The appeal challenged the Municipality's refusal to grant access to Atmospheric Emission Licences (AELs) and compliance reports for the SAPREF (Shell and BP) and Engen petroleum refineries, which the Municipality had withheld citing the protection of third-party commercial information under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). The Appeal Authority ultimately upheld the refusal, ruling that the information was commercially sensitive and that the public interest override was not sufficiently substantiated.

This document is an Atmospheric Emission Licence (WCCT006) issued by the City of Cape Town to the Chevron Refinery in Cape Town. Issued on 31 March 2014 and valid until 31 March 2079, the licence authorizes various listed activities related to petroleum refining, including liquid and gas combustion, catalytic cracking, sulphur recovery, and the storage and handling of petroleum products. It details the refinery's operational processes, raw material capacities, and general conditions for compliance with the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004.

This document is a technical annex of an air emissions license issued on 31 March 2014, detailing the emission limits, monitoring requirements, and operational conditions for a refinery operated by Chevron. It specifies pollutant thresholds for various combustion installations and storage facilities, mandates ambient air quality monitoring at specific stations, and establishes reporting protocols for non-compliance and emergency incidents.

This document consists of a 2003 letter from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and a 1994 registration certificate issued under the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act, 1965, regarding the operations of the Caltex Oil (SA) (Pty) Ltd petroleum refinery in Milnerton, South Africa.

The Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) for eThekwini Municipality, produced in April 2007 by eThekwini Health and the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, establishes a scientific framework to address urban air pollution. The plan focuses on priority pollutants—including sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, benzene, and odours—particularly within the industrialised South Durban Basin. It integrates a monitoring network, emission inventories, and dispersion modelling via the AirQUIS software system to inform abatement strategies and ensure compliance with the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act of 2005.