Environmental agency considers $223m projects

THE Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has considered projects with an estimated investment of over US$223 million.

Acting manager, corporate, Alexander Museshyo said ZEMA, during their third board meeting considered 63 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports from various developers covering all sectors of development across the country. Mr. Museshyo said the estimated investment of over US$223 million were considered in November.

“I wish to inform stakeholders, partners and the general public that the Environmental Assessments Committee sat and that in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011 and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 28 of 1997 they managed to consider 63 proposals,“he explained.

He said out of the 63 projects considered, 61 projects were approved while two were deferred pending submission of additional information from affected developers. Mr. Museshyo disclosed that there were no projects rejected at the last sitting.

He explained that urban development and the agriculture and forestry sectors had the highest number of projects with the estimated cumulative total from January to date in terms of investments now standing at about US$12 billion.

He said all the projects approved are subject to specific conditions within a given timeframe, adding that the approval can be cancelled without notice where a developer fails to comply with prescribed conditions and commitments made in the EIA report.