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The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting for groundWork, submitted a formal objection on 18 June 2021 to the Water Use Licence (WUL) application for the Nseleni Independent Floating Power Plant (NIFPP) at the Port of Richards Bay. The objection argues that the 12-page application is 'woefully deficient and incomplete,' failing to provide necessary data on water resource impacts, climate change, and the full scope of associated infrastructure to allow for an informed decision.

This document is an appeal filed on 17 January 2022 by Anchor Energy LNG Pty Ltd and Nseleni Power Corporation Pty Ltd against the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's (DFFE) decision to refuse environmental authorisations for the Nseleni Independent Floating Power Plant (NIFPP) and an associated LNG receiving and storage facility at the Port of Richards Bay.

This document is an appeal decision by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment of South Africa regarding the refusal of an Environmental Authorisation (EA) for Karpowership SA (Pty) Ltd's proposed Gas-to-Power via Powership Project at the Port of Richards Bay. The Minister remits the matter back to the Competent Authority (CA) to address material gaps in information and procedural defects in the public participation process.

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment of South Africa decided to remit the appeal regarding the refused Environmental Authorisation for Karpowership's Gas-to-Power project at the Port of Ngqura back to the Competent Authority. The original refusal was based on material gaps in environmental information, particularly regarding underwater noise impacts on marine life and fisheries, and procedural defects in public participation. Despite the project's status as a Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) intended to alleviate the national energy crisis, the Minister ruled that such status does not circumvent the requirements of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).

This industry brief by GreenCape outlines the opportunities and challenges for large-scale renewable energy development in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It highlights the province's significant grid capacity and strategic location while detailing the regulatory and environmental hurdles—specifically regarding mining rights and bird flight paths—that developers must navigate to facilitate a just energy transition.