What's New?
A listing of projects for which public comments are currently invited can be found on the ECC Portal of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (http://eia.met.gov.na), as well as information on the Environmental Clearance process, EIA procedures, downloadable files etc.
All projects - including those that were previously listed on the ECC Portal but have been removed - can be accessed on the eLibrary of the EIS.
Kavango Oil - Where do we stand? Panel Discussion 18 March 2021 at 16h00
EAPAN is assisting with the panel discussion on Thursday 18 March 2021 at 16h00 regarding the recent oil and gas exploration proposed in the Kavango Region. Follow the discussion live on the Namibian Sun and Republikein Facebook page.
Bush Encroachment Webinar on 14 October 2020
EAPAN is proud to be hosting a Bush Encroachment Webinar on 14 October 2020. Cost: N$250. RSVP by 12th OCtober to admin@n-c-e.org or admin@larssa.org.
Ministry of Environment and Tourism launches online Environmental Clearance service
The Department of Environmental Affairs in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism recently launched http://www.eia.met.gov.na - "Your Gateway to Environmental Clearance" - an online service which allows members of the public to apply for or renew an Environmental Clearance Certificate and to track its status, as well as to report environmental non-compliance.
The site also provides a lot of information on the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) process, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAP), including downloadable files containing legislation, application forms and screening questionnaires.
The sand mining industry in Namibia - are we burying our heads in the sand?
The sand mining industry in Namibia currently has its frustrations, both from the perspective of the developers and the regulators. The Environmental Assessment Professionals Association of Namibia (EAPAN) gave a talk and discussion on this topic at the Namibia Scientific Society, focussing on the current challenges and possible solutions. Here is a link to NBC's coverage of the talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE_qqRd0eo0
National Policy on Prospecting and Mining in Protected Areas
Namibia’s Cabinet has recently approved the National Policy on Prospecting and Mining in Protected Areas. This is an important achievement because, prior to this, there were no “no-go” areas in Namibia for prospecting and mining. Please look at Annexes 2-4 to get an overview of the no-go parks and the no-go areas within other parks. We warmly congratulate the two Ministries of Environment & Tourism and Mines & Energy, and Hon Members of Cabinet, for this very significant and progressive policy.
With this in place, we need to start thinking more broadly about other high-priority areas which don’t fall under the Ministry of Environment & Tourism, which would also quality as no-go areas for prospecting and mining. Please see Section 6.1 (starting on page 22) which outlines the characteristics of areas that may qualify for exclusion from prospecting and mining. Areas which immediately come to mind are the offshore islands in the Marine Protected Area which support globally important breeding populations of seabirds, some sinkholes in the Karst system that have endemic fish species, the string of islands in the Okavango River near Andara that support the only true “forest” in Namibia and chief’s burial grounds, Nyae-Nyae pans in Bushmanland, etc.