Environment > EIA

The proposed Coega refinery requires that a full EIA process be undertaken in terms of the South African EIA Regulations promulgated in April 2006, and published under Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA, Act 107 of 1998). The EIA process is used as a planning and design tool in order to identify the biophysical, social and economic impacts (positive and negative), and consequences of the proposed project upfront in order to support more informed decision-making. If the project is authorised to proceed, the EIA provides recommendations for management actions to avoid or mitigate potential negative impacts and/or maximise benefits associated with the project. The EIA process consists of the following five stages:

1. EIA application and scoping;
2. Specialist studies to investigate issues raised during scoping;
3. Preparation of the draft EIA Report (including the specialist studies) and the draft Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for review by Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs);
4. Submission of the final EIA report and the EMP to the authorities for decision-making; and
5. Authority decision-making and appeal process.

The following key environmental issues have been identified for further investigation:

• Identification and qualitative assessment of potential risks associated with the project;
• Impact of atmospheric emissions and associated potential impacts on human health;
• Impacts of emissions on plant physiology;
• Impacts of water consumption and waste water treatment and disposal;
• Impact on surface and groundwater resources, wastewater generation and implications for integrated water management;
• Impact of water discharges to the marine environment;
• Impacts on marine environment caused by import of crude oil via the Single Point Mooring (SPM) (e.g. oil spills);
• Impacts of materials handling and solid and chemical waste treatment and disposal;
• Impact of noise;
• Visual impacts;
• Socio-economic impacts;
• Heritage impacts (e.g. archaeology); and
• Impacts on traffic and transportation.

For a large-scale complex project such as the Coega refinery, it is anticipated that ownership and operation of components of the project could be transferred to other legal entities in the operational phase. Therefore separate EIA applications have been submitted for the key components of the project. However, in order to provide an integrated and complete environmental assessment process, I&APs will be afforded the opportunity to review all project documentation simultaneously as a single EIA process is being followed. This EIA covers the following three applications that have been submitted by PetroSA to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:

• Application for the refinery, on-site tank farm, on-site power plant, and linking infrastructure such as terrestrial pipelines and conveyors;
• Application for the SPM and sub-sea pipeline to shore; and
• Application for the Mthombo Port of Ngqura Tank farm (the portion to be utilised by PetroSA).

A separate EIA process for the berth development in the Port of Ngqura to be conducted by Transnet is expected to start by mid 2010.

Public participation process

Proactive engagement with stakeholders forms a key component of the entire EIA process. The public and other stakeholders will be informed via newspaper advertisements, letters and a public meeting about the proposed project at the outset of the EIA process and invited to register as Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs).

Stakeholders will be consulted during the Scoping phase to identify issues and concerns that should be addressed through the EIA process, identify additional information valuable to the EIA process, and assist in defining the scope and terms of reference for the EIA specialist studies. The draft Scoping Report and draft EIA Report will be presented to stakeholders with the opportunity to submit comments prior to the submission of the final reports to the authorities for decision-making. Responses to all issues raised and comments made will be included in the reports submitted to the authorities.

What is your role as a stakeholder?

The EIA process provides you with the opportunity to:

• Attend meetings and obtain information (such as this Background Information Document) to find out more about the proposed project and the EIA process;
• Raise any issues or concerns you may have regarding the proposed project;
• Provide PetroSA with additional information which should be considered in the assessment of impacts and the decision-making process;
• Comment on the EIA process and contents of the reports prior to submission of these to the authorities for decision-making; and
• Appeal the Environmental Authorisation issued by the authorities.

How can you get involved?

• By responding to the invitation for your involvement, which will be advertised in local, regional and national newspapers, and by registering as an I≈
• By mailing or faxing a comment form to the public participation consultant indicated below;
• By attending the public meetings that will be held during the EIA process;
• By telephonically contacting the public participation consultant if you have a query, comment, or require further project information;
• By reviewing the Draft Reports within the timeframes provided.

All registered I&APs will be sent personal newsletters with information updates on the EIA process and invitations to attend public meetings. The meeting dates will also be advertised in local and regional newspapers.
Should you consider yourself to be an I&AP, we encourage you to ensure you are registered on the project database by providing your contact details to the participation consultants indicated below. Registration will ensure that you are kept informed of developments relating to the EIA process, are invited to attend meetings, and are informed of the location and availability of draft reports for comment.

Scoping Report

Stakeholders will be consulted during the Scoping phase to identify issues and concerns which should be addressed through the EIA process, identify additional information which will be of value to the EIA process, and assist in defining the scope and terms of reference for the EIA specialist studies. The draft Scoping Report and draft EIA Report will be presented to stakeholders with the opportunity to submit comments on the draft version prior to the submission of the final reports to the authorities for decision-making. Responses to all issues raised and comments made will be included in the reports submitted to the authorities.

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