Question NW732 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
03 April 2023 - NW732
Herron, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Considering that points (h) and (i) in the latest Government Gazette relating to the National State of Disaster in Electricity Crisis refer specifically to the exemption of pre-existing energy infrastructure and generation from environmental regulations while they are upgraded and/or maintained, what (a) specific environmental regulations were holding back development and/or refurbishment the most and (b) total amount of projected time is saved in the development process by exempting the specified regulations?
Reply:
The Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries, as the custodian of the legal and regulatory frameworks that control environmental issues, can answer to this question with the necessary specificity and rigor. In order to achieve the goals stated in section 27 (3) of the Disaster Management Act, 57 of 2002, the NDMC's job is to coordinate the necessary actions aimed at reducing the likelihood of a complete blackout.
End.