The departments of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) are reviewing complaints and concerns in the public domain over the use of chemicals as part of a programme to eliminate water lettuce in the Vaal river. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/dws-dffe-to-probe-clearing-methods-at-vaal-are-aligned-with-regulatory-environment-2024-02-19
Author Archives: EcoImpact
In April 2007, the cruise ship MS Sea Diamond ran aground near the Greek island of Santorini and sank the next day. https://www.2oceansvibe.com/2024/02/19/tragic-santorini-shipwreck-now-a-ticking-environmental-time-bomb/
South Africa produced its inaugural official gauge of the carbon intensity of its electricity production, confirming its status as one of the world’s top producers per capita of greenhouse gases.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment this month said that the country’s domestic generation grid emission factor (DGGEF), a measure of the carbon intensity of electricity produced in the country, is 1.013 tons of carbon dioxide or its equivalent per megawatt hour. The department used 2021 data. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/south-africas-inaugural-grid-emission-measure-highlights-coal-dependence-2024-02-14
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has launched a mission to research the presence and impact of microplastics in Antarctica. Microplastics are defined as plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm. These were first detected in Antarctica in 2009, in sea ice samples collected in East Antarctica by University of Tasmania (Australia) researchers. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/iaea-launches-microplastic-pollution-research-project-in-antarctica-2024-01-08
Five leaders of environmental organisations have, in an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, called on government to immediately withdraw the National Petroleum Company Bill in addition to stopping all oil and gas exploration off South Africa’s coastline. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/environmental-leaders-call-for-withdrawal-of-national-petroleum-company-bill-2023-12-05
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) on December 4 released the Electric Vehicles (EV) White Paper, as well as the Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy final report https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/patel-releases-long-awaited-ev-white-paper-final-green-hydrogen-commercialisation-strategy-2023-12-04
A financial adviser has been appointed to assist Sasol in a search for potential coinvestors into a green hydrogen and ammonia export hub at Boegoebaai, in the Northern Cape, following the https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/sasol-appoints-adviser-to-search-for-boegoebaai-hydrogen-export-hub-coinvestors-2023-12-01
While the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, held in November, could not reach a consensus on the zero-draft text for a legally binding instrument to coordinate global https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/despite-no-consensus-on-global-plastics-instrument-south-africa-is-making-progress-creecy-2023-11-30
Sustainable waste management provider Mpact Waste Management is now providing sustainable on-site waste management services for retailer Pick n Pay’s super distribution center at Eastport Logistics. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/mpact-waste-management-partners-with-pick-n-pay-distribution-centre-in-gauteng-2023-11-08
Namibia began construction on Monday of Africa’s first decarbonised iron plant, to be powered exclusively by green hydrogen, the country’s investment promotion body said. Steelmaking is one of the.. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/namibia-starts-construction-of-africas-first-decarbonised-iron-plant-2023-11-07