LOOMING DEADLINE: SUBMISSION OF POLLUTION PREVENTION PLANS
Title: National Pollution Prevention Plans Regulations, 2017
Government Gazette Notice: GN 712 in GG 40996 of 21 July 2017
Commencing date: 21 July 2017
Final National Pollution Prevention Plans Regulations have been published. The purpose of these Regulations is to prescribe the requirements that pollution prevention plans of greenhouse gases declared as priority air pollutants need to comply with in terms of section 29(3) of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 (NEMAQA).
Persons conducting any production process listed in Annexure A that involves emission of greenhouse gases in excess of 0.1 Megatonnes (Mt) annually, reported as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-eq), and/or if so directed by the Minister, must comply with these Regulations. The first pollution prevention plan must be submitted to the Minister of Environmental Affairs within five months from the date of promulgation of these Regulations and the subsequent pollution prevention plans must be submitted within five months of existing plans being reconciled. A first pollution prevention plan must cover a period from the date of promulgation of these Regulations up to 31 December 2020 and the subsequent pollution prevention plans must cover periods of five calendar years each. A person required to submit a first pollution prevention plan must also monitor and evaluate implementation of the approved pollution prevention plan and submit a progress report to the Minister by 31 March each year for the preceding calendar year.
So what for my operation?
If your organisation conducts any of the following production processes, which involves emission of greenhouse gases in excess of 0.1 Megatonnes (Mt) annually, reported as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-eq), and/or if so directed by the Minister, these Regulations must be adhered to:
(a) Coal mining;
(b) Production and/or refining of crude oil;
(c) Production and/or processing of natural gas;
(d) Production of liquid fuels from coal or gas;
(e) Cement production
(f) Glass production;
(g) Ammonia production;
(h) Nitric acid production;
(i) Carbon black production;
(j) Iron and steel production;
(k) Ferro-alloys production;
(l) Aluminium production, excluding foundries;
(m) Polymers production;
(n) Pulp and paper production;
(o) Electricity production from fossil fuels; excluding the use of back-up generators.
Applicable organisations must submit a pollution prevention plan to the Minister of Environmental Affairs on or before 21 December 2017. Such organisations must keep proper records of implementation of approved pollution prevention plans and submit information to the Minister of Environmental Affairs on an annual basis. If this is not done, this constitutes an offence punishable by a fine of maximum R5 million (R10 million for a second offence) or imprisonment of maximum 5 years (10 years for a second offence), or both.
What is Shangoni’s approach?
Applying simulated results together with operational information, Shangoni can facilitate the development of site specific pollution prevention plans for organisations in all relevant sectors. Shangoni can also assist organisations in the identification of monitoring and record keeping requirements and the submission of annual progress reports as required. For more information, contact the head of our Air Quality Department, Patricia van der Walt at patricia@shangoni.co.za.
