PORT OF NGQURA - STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

The Port of Ngqura is a deepwater port on the east coast of South Africa and is located approximately 20 km north-east of Gqeberha. The Port is situated in the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Algoa Bay. Operations at this Port commenced in 2009. The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) recognised the need to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Port of Ngqura in light of the various projects earmarked for this Port, as proposed in the Port Development Framework Plan (PDFP).
According to the White Paper on Environmental Management Policy for South Africa of 1998, a SEA is “a process to assess the environmental implications of a proposed strategic decision, policy, plan, programme, piece of legislation or major plan”. One of its primary objectives is to aid decision-making by considering the environment earlier on in a planning process.
The objectives of the SEA for the Port of Ngqura are as follows:
1. The SEA will allow for the early consideration of the environmental implications of the PDFP, including the identification of potentially significant impacts, and determining commensurate environmental management requirements; and
2. The SEA aims to integrate environmental considerations into the future development of the Port to ultimately promote sustainable planning and development, based on inherent qualities of the receiving environment.