Environmental impact assessment during project execution phases: towards a stage-gate project management model for the raw materials processing industry of the energy sector

Abstract

Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are usually required for all projects in the raw materials processing industry of the South African energy sector; they range in comprehensiveness from screening or abridged to full EIAs. Technical projects are typically on extremely tight schedules and project managers are tasked to properly align project lifecycles with the EIA process. However, the South African EIA legislation fails to take project management models and practices into consideration. A survey was conducted to establish the model that is usually followed. It focused on the stages of an EIA in relation to the project execution lifecycle phases. It ascertained problems that currently exist with the EIA procedure in the raw materials processing industry of the energy sector and that negatively affect the efficiency of project management practices in South Africa. Possible solutions are discussed and a stage-gate model is subsequently proposed, whereby the proper alignment of the South African EIA process and a typical project lifecycle is ensured for the energy sector. Further research is required to test the model through South African cases to determine the benefits and inefficiencies of such an approach, its critical elements such as quality assurance, and its influence on the stakeholders involved in an EIA.