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An independent review finds that the Water Use License issued to KiPower (Pty) Ltd by the South African Department of Water and Sanitation is legally and technically flawed. The review concludes that the DWS failed to correctly identify and authorise necessary water uses, provided incorrect property and location data, and included compliance specifications that are largely invalid or unmeasurable. Furthermore, the DWS is accused of ignoring critical resource quality objectives for the Wilge River and attempting to shift historic mining remediation liabilities to KiPower, rendering the decision to issue the license unreasonable and an error in law.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a response to the Department of Environmental Affairs regarding the Climate Change Mitigation Policies and Measures (PAMs) methodology. While supporting the study's objectives, CER argues that the proposed scope of greenhouse gases is too narrow, excluding several gases listed in the 2014 Biennial Update Report (HFCs, PFCs, and SF6) as well as critical pollutants like black carbon and HCFCs. CER recommends extending the scope of the analysis to ensure accuracy and reflect national priority air pollutants.

This document contains the legal and technical submissions made by a coalition of eight appellants (including Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and BirdLife South Africa) on August 14, 2017, appealing an environmental authorisation (EA) granted to Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd for the Yzermyn underground coal mine in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), writing on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, submitted a letter to the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) on 11 August 2017. The letter argues that the CSIR's "comprehensive alternative" Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity fails to account for critical health, water, climate, and nuclear-related costs, which leads to an underestimation of the true cost of coal and nuclear energy compared to renewable alternatives.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), writing on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, submitted additional comments to the South African Department of Energy regarding the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and Integrated Energy Plan (IEP). The letter argues that current energy modelling fails to account for critical externalities, specifically the health and water costs of coal, the high nitrous oxide emissions associated with circulating fluidised bed combustion technology, and comprehensive nuclear lifecycle costs.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting on behalf of groundWork, is requesting clarification from the Department of Water and Sanitation regarding the "minimum requirements" used to recommend the issuance of an integrated water use licence (IWUL) for the proposed 600MW KiPower coal-fired power station near Delmas, Mpumalanga.

The Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2017 is a South African legislative act that amends multiple existing laws to refine judicial administration, criminal procedure, and the regulation of legal professionals and state liability.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a formal request to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for records concerning the implementation of buffer zones around national parks and other protected areas in South Africa, specifically referencing the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 and the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004.

This report documents the responses of Thabametsi Power Company to objections raised by Earthlife Africa and Greenpeace Africa regarding the project's climate change and palaeontological impact assessments. Key points of contention include the project's high GHG emission intensity (1.23 tCO2e/MWh), the failure to quantify the social cost of carbon, and the high risk of water scarcity in the Lephalale region of Limpopo Province. The developer maintains that the project is consistent with South African national energy policy (IRP 2010 and 2016) and that its water needs for Phase 1 are secured through existing allocations from the MCWAP-1 scheme.

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has initiated legal action against the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and the Minister of Energy regarding the requirement of a Ministerial determination under section 34 of the Electricity Control Act (ECA) for licensing Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

This briefing describes a legal case in which the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) represented the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) to compel ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) to disclose an environmental impact study and records regarding the closure and rehabilitation of the Vaal Disposal Site.

This case study details legal challenges brought by groundWork and the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) against the environmental and water authorizations granted for the proposed KiPower coal-fired power station in South Africa.

This document is a final impact assessment template for the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS), specifically detailing the design, intended outcomes, and projected impacts of a proposed carbon tax in South Africa. It outlines a phased approach to internalise the costs of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to encourage a transition to a low-carbon economy while mitigating adverse effects on industrial competitiveness and low-income households.

A letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights to the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality requesting notification of any land-use change applications for properties linked to a proposed underground coal mining operation by Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs on 12 June 2017, detailing the failure of the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) to meet national air quality standards. The CER argues that postponements of minimum emission standards (MES) granted to Eskom and Sasol have hindered progress, and that the national air quality monitoring network is severely dysfunctional.

This report presents the results of a climate change study, a climate resilience assessment, and a palaeontological impact assessment for the proposed 1200MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station near Lephalale in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The document evaluates the project's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, its vulnerability to future climate scenarios, and the potential for fossil material destruction during construction.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) requested a meeting with the Department of Environmental Affairs to discuss Eskom's non-compliance with emission standards. Based on a report by Professor Eugene Cairncross analyzing data from April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, the CER highlights widespread violations of PM10, NOx, and SO2 limits across multiple power stations and calls for stricter monitoring and reporting guidelines.

A letter from MacRobert Attorneys to the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) regarding the environmental authorisation for a 600 MW coal-fired independent power plant for KiPower (Pty) Limited in South Africa. The letter confirms the developer's intent to conduct a Climate Change Impact Assessment (CCIA) following a specific court judgement.

This document is a cover letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) to the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs, submitting further arguments on behalf of groundWork to appeal the environmental authorisation for the ACWA Power Khanyisa Thermal Power Station.

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.