Cecilia Chiluba 
- The projects were approved by ZEMA’s Environmental Assessments Committee.
- Approval of the projects is in accordance with the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011.
- Energy sector accounted for over K7.5 billion and tourism over K28 million.
Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has approved for implementation 168 projects developmental projects worth over K25 billion.
Agency Director General, Godfrey Mwiinga said the projects were approved by ZEMA’s Environmental Assessments Committee (EAC) at its 16th and 17th sittings held in January, February and early March, 2024.
Mr. Mwiinga explained that of the approved projects, the energy sector accounted for K7.5 billion, manufacturing and processing, K3.5 billion, tourism over K28 million, mining and mineral processing over K3 billion and agricultural and forestry K80 million, bringing the total to K25, 785, 094,195.
“The approval of the projects is in accordance with the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011 (“the EMA”) as read together with the Environmental Management (Amendment) Act No. 8 of 2023 and the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 28 of 1997.”
“A total of 162 Environmental Project Briefs (EPB) were approved whilst 6 Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) were approved during the EAC sittings. An EPB is a report prepared for a proposed project with minimal impact on the environment. An EIS is a report prepared for proposed projects anticipated to have huge environmental impacts,” Mr. Mwiinga explained.
He commended members of the public for participating in the Environmental Assessment Process.
“The environmental assessment process is participatory in nature and therefore, the decisions of the Agency are enhanced by the valuable input of the stakeholders as well as members of the general public.”
“ZEMA wishes to thank all stakeholders especially local authorities who provide feedback towards the proposed projects which aids the Agency’s decision making. This is critical to the EIA process,” he stated.
