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Expert perspectives, regulatory updates, technical guidance and thought leadership from SSK Consulting’s multidisciplinary team — covering environmental, agricultural and geospatial disciplines.
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FeaturedUnderstanding NEMA Amendments and Their Impact on Mining Authorisations
Recent changes to South Africa’s National Environmental Management Act introduce new timelines, stricter public participation requirements and updated appeal procedures. Here’s what project developers and mining operations need to know before submitting their next Environmental Impact Assessment.
Industry News
Latest from the Industry
Curated news and updates from South Africa’s environmental, energy and natural resource sectors — sourced from leading industry publications.
Government Pushes for a Flexible Environmental Impact Assessment System
South Africa’s EIA rules are up for revision as the DFFE consults on a new flexible, risk-based framework — nearly 30 years after environmental assessments became mandatory for local developers.
Proposed Reforms to Modernise South Africa’s Environmental Governance
The DFFE launched a national stakeholder consultation on proposed EIA reforms running across all nine provinces — aiming to modernise the country’s environmental governance framework towards sustainable development.
Proposed Reforms to Modernise Environmental Governance
South Africa’s government has launched a national consultation on EIA reforms — with risk-based tools to focus regulatory scrutiny where it matters most while supporting faster approvals for low-impact developments.
Streamlining EIA Processes for Renewable Energy Projects in South Africa
The DFFE processed 220 EIA applications for independent power producers with a 99% efficiency rate within the 57-day target — a dramatic improvement reflecting growing capacity to balance environmental oversight with energy security.
Embedding Carbon Management into Construction Contracts
The FIDIC Carbon Management Guide introduces a structured methodology for embedding GHG emissions management into engineering and construction contracts — with significant implications for South Africa’s carbon-intensive construction sector.
Companies Urged to Better Understand the Importance of ESG Reporting
As ESG reporting requirements become increasingly stringent in South Africa, companies are urged to move beyond compliance — building genuine sustainability value across environmental, social and governance dimensions.
EnvironmentalOne of the most common questions developers and project owners ask before starting a project is how long the EIA process will take. The honest answer depends on whether your activity triggers a Basic Assessment or a full Scoping and EIA — and which competent authority is involved. This guide breaks down the typical timeframes for each process track, what causes delays, and how to plan your project timeline realistically around the NEMA environmental authorisation requirements.
RegulatoryNot every development project in South Africa requires a full Environmental Impact Assessment — but knowing whether yours does is critical before breaking ground. Under the NEMA EIA Regulations, specific listed activities in Government Notice R983, R984 and R985 trigger the need for either a Basic Assessment or Scoping and EIA process. We explain how to check if your project is listed and what to do next.
EnvironmentalWhen a project triggers the need for environmental authorisation under NEMA, it will follow one of two process tracks — a Basic Assessment (BA) or a full Scoping and Environmental Impact Report (S&EIR). Understanding which track applies to your project determines your timeline, costs and public participation obligations. Here is a plain-language explanation of the difference and how to determine which applies.