DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DEPARTEMENT VAN OMGEWINGSAKE
Ref: 02/1/5/2
MINISTER
QUESTION NO. 323 FOR WRITTEN REPLY: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
A draft reply to Mrs E C van Lingen (DA-EC) to the above-mentioned question
is enclosed for your consideration.
Ms Nosipho Ngcaba
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
APPROVED/AMENDED
MINISTER
DATE:
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 323.
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 23 CW418E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 09 September 2010
Mrs E C van Lingen (DA-EC) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
(1) Whether she has formulated a policy to ensure that the locations
which are under the sustainable renewable energy sources are managed
in an ecologically sound and environmentally friendly manner; if not,
why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) (a) what steps has her department taken to assist (i) provinces, (ii)
regions and (iii) local government to (aa) identify sites for the
projects and (bb) keep a balance between scenic value of landscapes as
opposed to visually compromised landscapes and (b) what are the
relevant details regarding the development of the guidelines;
(3) (a) what is her department doing in terms of (i)(aa) formal
guidelines and (bb) policy directives, (ii) acceptance of Regional
Wind Plans, (iii) inclusion of the Regional wind plans in Strategic
Environmental Assessments, (iv) Regional Landscape Character
Assessments and (v) specific zonation of wind generation projects in
local, regional and provincial spatial development frameworks and (b)
when will these be made available to the public?
Mrs E C van Lingen (DA-EC)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
323. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
(1) No policy has as yet been formulated. However, as part of all
environmental impact assessment (EIA) applications submitted for
approval, a thorough assessment of all impacts must be done and in
addition an environmental management programme must be submitted.
These are also considered by the authorities. Proper environmentally
friendly and ecologically sound management procedures and requirements
are provided for in these documents. This is a requirement in terms of
the relevant EIA Regulations.
(2) (a) The national Department of Environmental Affairs has developed a
project proposal to identify areas that will be suitable for wind
energy installations in Kwazulu Natal, the Eastern, Western and
Northern Cape. Environmental management frameworks have also been
developed in certain parts of these provinces.
(i) (ii) (iii) Provinces, regions and local government will have
access to this documentation and (aa) it will help to identify sites
that (bb) meet the criteria to be suitable for such installations.
All criteria relevant to the siting of wind energy installations will
be addressed in this project, ranging from ecological and scenic
aspects, to the availability of wind and the connectivity to the
national energy distribution network. This project will include all
role players, and the information generated will be made available to
all.
(b) The project has not yet commenced, but it is envisaged that the
first phase will be completed in 12 months and that it will be funded
by the Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ). These
negotiations are underway.
(3) Refer to information provided in (2) above. In addition, the
Department is busy with the development of a renewable energy sector
guideline (wind and solar). The terms of reference for this project
have been approved. The service provider will be appointed before the
end of this year and the technical process to develop the guideline
will commence during the next financial year. The purpose of the
guideline is to provide a relevant and necessary guide to stakeholders
in the energy sector on the authorization requirements. The guideline
should further provide a common understanding of applicable listed
activities; impacts (that trigger listed activities) typically
associated with the sector; best practice requirements of sector,
including information on acceptable mitigation and management
measures; information on levels of acceptable changes etc.
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