Title: National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998): Consultation on the Intention to Adopt a Standard for the Development and Expansion of Electricity Transmission and Distribution Power Line Infrastructure and to Exclude this Infrastructure from the Requirement to Obtain an Environmental Authorisation; as well as to Repeal the Standard for the Development and Expansion of Power Lines and Substations within Identified Geographical Areas and the Exclusion Based on this Standard, Published under Government Notice No. 2313 in Government Gazette No. 47095 of 27 July 2022 

Gazette reference: GN 4586 in GG 50417 of 28 March 2024 

Deadline for public comments: 29 April 2024 

On 28 March 2024, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment announced her intention to adopt the Standard for the Development and Expansion of Electricity Transmission and Distribution Power Line Infrastructure, 2024 and to exclude certain activities identified in terms of section 24(2)(a) and (b) of the NEMA from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation, based on compliance with the Standard.  

The exclusion from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation applies to the development and expansion of the following activities –  

• Listing Notice 1 (the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 1 of 2014) 5.1.1 Activity 11; 5.12. Activity 47; or 5.2 

• Listing Notice 2 (the Envrironmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 2 of 2014): 5.2.1. Activity 9; and 

• Any activity identified in Listing Notice 1, 2 or 3 necessary for the realisation of such infrastructure in areas identified by the screening tool as being of medium or low environmental sensitivity.