WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy will hold a public hearing on the Gas Amendment Bill (B9 - 2021) in the Mossel Bay Town Hall on Saturday 22 January from 10:00 till 13:00.
This will be part of a series of public hearings scheduled in the Western Cape to facilitate public involvement in respect of the Bill. The public will have opportunity to comment and provide input.
The Gas Amendment Bill seeks to update the Gas Act of 2001 in the following ways:
- Promote the orderly development of the gas industry;
- Promote broad-based black economic empowerment;
- Provide for socio-economic and environmentally sustainable development;
- Provide for new development and changing technologies in the gas sector;
- Facilitate gas infrastructure development and investment; and
- Strengthen enforcement and improve compliance.
The Bill will empower Nersa (National Energy Regulator of South Africa) to play a critical role with regard to tariff and price setting as well as
to set, monitor, approve and regulate gas transmission, storage and distribution tariffs.
Possible target audience for the public hearings
Key stakeholders would be the companies/individuals who supply gas, companies or individuals who are registered to supply gas but not yet supplying, non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) that are in the sector (environmental and fossil fuel advocates).
Communities affected by the gas infrastructure, either the infrastructure passed through the community or the community is living adjacent to it. Community involvement is important for the following reasons:
- Gas pipelines sometimes crossover residential areas. Companies must clearly mark those areas and make sure pipelines are deeply buried underground.
- Pipeline encroachment is a serious concern – raising awareness on this is crucial.
- Steel pipes get stolen by people who make a living out of selling scrap metals – this pose a risk to communities because gas is hazardous.
- The environmental impact associated with gas production impact negatively on the communities surrounding the project area.
For more information on the Gas Act and proposed Amendment Bill, read the following documents:
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