By Nneka Nwogwugwu
South Africa’s Environment Minister, Barbara Creecy, has proposed a public consultation process that will hear all inputs into the various appeals related to air quality matters currently being considered.
Creecy is currently dealing with several appeals against various decisions by the department’s National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) regarding requests for the suspension and postponement of compliance with the Minimum Emission Standards (MES) and the issuing of a provisional atmospheric emission licenses (PAEL).
The department said while some of the appeals were granted, others were refused.
“Subsequent to the decision by the National Air Quality Officer, the Minister has received several appeals by interested and affected parties against the various decisions of the Officer. The appellants include Eskom, other industries and a range of non-governmental organisations.
“Due to the complex and conflicting nature of the issues raised in the appeals received, the Minister is of the view that a consultative process will assist in ensuring that all issues arising from the appeals can be addressed in a meaningful and resolute manner,” the department said in a statement.
Section 3A of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) empowers the Minister to establish any forum or advisory committee to deal with issues relating to the environment.
“The consultative process will deal with matters that have a bearing on the environment, in particular air quality, the health of the country’s citizens, as well as issues relating to the security of energy supply and sustainable development within our country,” the department said.
