environmental authorisationlatest news & developments
The proposed 4 000MW project would be built at Duynefontein next to the existing Koeberg nuclear power station near Cape Town. Photo: David Harrison

‘Zombie’ nuclear project: Nuclear-1  environmental authorisation faces legal battle

Environmental justice organisations have launched a high court challenge against Eskom’s proposed Nuclear-1 power station, arguing that the 2017 environmental authorisation, upheld by Dion George in 2025, breached South Africa’s environmental laws

  • Sheree Bega
3 min read
The environmental authorisation for the proposed four-month drilling project was granted to TotalEnergies, but the company intends to transfer the environmental authorisation to Shell. (Rawpixel_

Shell, mineral and petroleum resources department to appeal court ruling blocking offshore oil drilling

The Western Cape high court ruled that an environmental impact assessment had failed to fully consider the risks of a major oil spill, fishing communities and South Africa’s climate obligations

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
Mad dash: Most of the sudden influx of prospecting applications are for lithium, but include dozens of other critical minerals. Pictured here is the SA Lithium Mine near Umzumbe. Photo: Supplied

Mining red flags along KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast

Thirteen prospecting applications have been submitted to the department of minerals and petroleum resources by seven companies since 2023

  • Eyaaz
11 min read