Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Boegoebaai Port and Namakwa Region

Green hydrogen production, at the scale envisaged, is a diverse and multifaceted process with many direct and indirect impacts, both positive and negative. All programme components (including their interconnected transport corridors) would require vast areas of land surface, as well as other resource intensive inputs, all proposed in a sparsely populated but ecologically sensitive arid region. Existing land uses in the study area include conservation, agriculture, tourism and mining.

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has been initiated through a collaboration involving the Northern Cape Economic Development Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (NCEDA), South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), and Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA). The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been asked to undertake the SEA.

The purpose of the SEA is to develop an integrated decision-making framework to guide the planning and development of the proposed Boegoebaai port, Special Economic Zone and wider Namakwa region in a sustainable manner.

Resources

Stakeholder engagement:

• ​Stakeholder registration form
• Background Information Document, November 2024
• Agtergrond Inligtingsdokument, November 2024 [Afrikaans]
   

Working Group:

• Working Group Meeting 1: Notes & Presentations
• Working Group Meeting 2: Notes
  • Appendix B: Overview of Proposed Developments & Infrastructure
  • Appendix C: Overview of Boegoebaai Site Selection process
  • Appendix D: SEA Overview & Scope and Methodology for Specialists

For more information, contact ems@csir.co.za.