South Africa: Thabametsi gets environmental go-ahead

Environmental affairs minister Bomo Edna Molewa has approved an environmental authorisation for the 557MW Thabametsi coal project, despite an assessment showing the project will have a “high social cost”. The North Gauteng High Court ordered Molewa to reconsider environmental authorisation for the project last year because a climate change impact assessment had not been carried out. Earthlife Africa Johannesburg said it would return to court to challenge the latest decision.Savannah Environmental undertook the climate assessment on behalf of Thabametsi’s sponsors.