Search Climate Insights Directory

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a letter to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 6 March 2018, requesting procedural details for public hearings regarding generation licence applications for the proposed Khanyisa and Thabametsi coal-fired power stations.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting on behalf of groundWork (gW), has issued an urgent request to the South African Department of Water and Sanitation for information and reasons regarding a water use licence (WUL) issued for the proposed 600 MW Khanyisa Independent Power Producer (IPP) coal-fired power station.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing the Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle Campaign, submitted a formal statement to the Portfolio Committee on Energy on 29 November 2017. The document outlines critical concerns regarding the lack of transparency, inadequate public consultation, and the omission of key economic and environmental data in the development of South Africa's draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Electricity Update and the draft Integrated Energy Plan (IEP).

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting on behalf of groundWork, has filed a provisional appeal under Section 62 of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 regarding the transfer of a provisional atmospheric emission licence (PAEL) for the proposed Khanyisa coal-fired power station.

This document is a provisional appeal filed on 13 November 2017 by groundWork, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights, against the transfer of a provisional atmospheric emission licence (PAEL) for the Khanyisa coal-fired power station. The appellant argues that the transfer from Anglo Operations (Pty) Ltd to ACWA Power Khanyisa Thermal Power Station RF (Pty) Ltd is invalid because the licence does not reflect the project's increased capacity of 600MW, fails to account for cumulative air quality impacts in the Highveld Priority Area, and was processed without required public participation or valid delegation of authority.

This October 2017 report by the Centre for Environmental Rights, groundWork, and the Highveld Environmental Justice Network evaluates the failure of the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) to improve air quality in South Africa. Despite the 2007 declaration of the HPA and the 2012 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP), the report concludes that air quality remains poor and non-compliant with health-based standards, largely due to industrial emissions, inadequate monitoring, and a lack of government capacity and enforcement.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and groundWork, submitted a letter to the IPP Office of the Department of Energy on 15 September 2017. The letter provides updates on legal and environmental challenges facing three proposed coal-fired power stations: Thabametsi, Khanyisa, and KiPower. The CER argues that these projects fail to meet the legal qualification criteria for financial close or preferred bidder status due to missing climate change impact assessments (CCIA) and pending disputes over environmental and water licenses.

This document is a legal submission by groundWork, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights, appealing to the Minister of Environmental Affairs to extend the deadline for filing an appeal against the environmental authorisation of the ACWA Power Khanyisa Thermal Power Station. The appellant argues that the authorisation is unlawful because it lacked a comprehensive climate change impact assessment, a requirement recently affirmed by the High Court in the Thabametsi judgment.

A notice of intention to appeal submitted by groundWork, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights, against the integrated Environmental Authorisation for the 600MW IPP Khanyisa coal-fired power station near Emalahleni, Mpumalanga Province.

This case study by the Center for International Environmental Law examines how coal mining in South Africa's Mpumalanga province threatens access to clean water and food, disproportionately impacting women. It highlights the gap between protective legal frameworks and the reality of corporate impunity and government failure to enforce environmental laws.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) issued a questionnaire to the Nkangala District Municipality (NDM) on 15 June 2016 to conduct a "mini shadow review" of air quality improvements in the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) since 2007. The briefing seeks to determine if the NDM has the capacity, financial resources, and personnel to implement the HPA Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) and to assess whether industrial emissions and dust have been reduced.

A joint media statement by a civil society coalition criticizing Minister of Mineral Resources Ngoako Ramatlhodi for ignoring mining-affected communities and prioritizing corporate interests over public participation and justice in the development of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA).

This case study examines the N4 toll road, a 30-year infrastructure PPP between the governments of South Africa and Mozambique and the private consortium Trans African Concessions. The project, valued at approximately $466 million, connects Witbank in South Africa to Maputo in Mozambique, serving as a critical export link and a route for labor migration.

A case study on the N4 toll road concession between South Africa and Mozambique, detailing the financing, risk management, and regional economic impacts of the project operated by Trans-African Concessions (TRAC).

This 2006 report analyzes trade and investment barriers between South Africa, India, and Brazil. It finds that while trade is growing, particularly between South Africa and Brazil, it remains hampered by high tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and a lack of awareness among the business sector regarding the IBSA initiative. The report recommends reducing customs duties, improving infrastructure, and involving the private sector in trade agreement implementation.

A statement from the South African Department of Environmental Affairs amending an Environmental Authorisation (EA) issued on 31 October 2013. The amendment concerns the realignment of road D255 for the 450 MW Khanyisa Coal Fired Power Station in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga Province.

This document consists of a letter from the South African Department of Water and Sanitation to the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) and a formal petition from ACWA Power Khanyisa Thermal Power Station (RF) (Pty) Ltd. ACWA Power is requesting that the Minister of Water and Sanitation uplift the automatic suspension of its Integrated Water Use Licence (IWUL), which was suspended following an appeal lodged by the CER on behalf of groundWork.

This document is a written response from the Third Respondent, ACWA Power Station Khanyisa Thermal Power Station (RF) (Pty) Ltd, to an appeal filed by GroundWork. The appeal challenged the decision by the Nkangala District Municipality (NDM) to transfer a provisional atmospheric emissions licence (PAEL) from Anglo Operations (Pty) Ltd to ACWA for the Khanyisa Project, a coal-fired power station near eMalahleni.

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.

A letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) to the South African Minister of Health, requesting the Department of Health's participation in the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) Multi-Stakeholder Reference Group meetings to address the severe health impacts of air pollution.