ZEMA exceeds EIA 2023 target

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The Zambia Environmental Management Agency-ZEMA has surpassed its annual target for projects considered in the year 2023. 

ZEMA Acting Director General Maxwell Nkoya has disclosed that the Environmental Assessment Committee of the Board considered a total of 1,129 projects against the annual target of 1,000 targets for the year 2023. 

Mr Nkoya says the total investment cost for all considered projects stood at over 172-billion-kwacha. 

He said of the total projects considered, 1129 projects were approved while 51 projects were rejected due to inadequate or lack of mitigation measures as well as for being located in environmentally sensitive locations.

Further, Mr Nkoya revealed that a total of 20 projects were deferred due to insufficient project information for decision-making.

He said the Environmental Assessment Committee held 12 Ordinary and 6 Extraordinary meetings in the year 2023 and considered projects from the Mining, Infrastructure, Tourism, and Agriculture/Forestry as well as Energy sectors. 

Mr Nkoya said among the notable projects considered in the year included applications to set up waste disposal sites for Chama and Rufunsa Town Councils.

He said the two Local Authorities intend to set up disposal sites which will consist of waste sorting bays for recycling, incinerators for medical waste with air pollution abatement equipment, and cells for burying solid waste. Both dumpsites are expected to handle not less than four tons of waste per week.

He said the disposal sites will each be located more than 5 kilometers away from human settlements.

He said this is an important factor as the nature of activities at such facilities has the potential to cause pollution and contribute to the spread of diseases.

Mr Nkoya said the Agency is elated by the proactiveness exhibited by some Local Authorities who are working towards expanding their waste management infrastructure and introducing recycling because of the onset of rains.

He said the projects were approved in line with the Environmental Management Act No. 12, 2011 and the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1997.

 

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