Our appeal against the 2026 emission licence
Status: appeal lodged on 13 October 2026. We update this page at each step.
On 13 October 2026 RDAG lodged an appeal against the atmospheric emission licence issued to Transnet Port Terminals Saldanha by the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). The licence, reference AEL/WC/WCDM/TPT/08/07/2026, was issued on 2 September 2026 and runs for five years. The appeal was lodged within the extended period granted for lodging it.
What we are asking for
That the licence be set aside and sent back for a proper public participation process, and that any licence issued afterwards carry dated, measurable and enforceable dust obligations, with an ambient monitoring network specified in the licence itself.
What this appeal is not
RDAG is not asking for the Port of Saldanha to stop. Our purpose is a lawful licence with real obligations, not an interruption of the ore corridor. We have said so in the appeal itself.
Our grounds, in brief
These are RDAG’s grounds of appeal. They will be decided by the appeal authority.
A decision taken without the public
Page 1 of the licence records that it “has been issued on the basis of information provided in the company’s application dated 09 July 2026 and information that was provided during the pre-licensing inspection on 05 August 2026.” No public participation process is listed, because none was held in the national process. The comments RDAG and others made in the municipal process were never considered.
RDAG contends that a renewal of this kind cannot lawfully be granted without public participation.
Obligations without dates
The 2023 licence set 2 September 2026 as the deadline for specific dust-control projects. The new licence drops that schedule; its timeframes read “immediately” or refer to a dust management plan. Obligations without dates are difficult to enforce.
Monitoring left for later
The number and location of ambient monitoring stations are left to a future agreement with the licensing authority. Pollution that is not measured cannot be proved, by the community or by the regulator.
The wider burden
RDAG contends the decision does not deal with the cumulative dust burden carried by surrounding communities and businesses, or with the terminal’s proximity to the Langebaan Lagoon, a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Timeline
Transnet applies to the West Coast District Municipality to renew its licence, which is due to expire on 2 September 2026.
Public comment period in the municipal process. RDAG and other interested and affected parties submit comments and objections.
The municipality refuses the renewal.
The municipality withdraws its refusal on the grounds that it was not the competent authority. The application moves to national level, undecided.
Transnet lodges a fresh application with DFFE.
DFFE carries out a pre-licensing inspection.
DFFE issues the new licence, valid for five years.
Registered interested and affected parties are formally notified of the decision.
RDAG gives notice that it will appeal.
RDAG lodges its appeal.
The licence holder and other parties may respond, after which the appeal authority decides. We will post each step here.
Documents
The 2026 licence
Issued by DFFE on 2 September 2026. Reference AEL/WC/WCDM/TPT/08/07/2026.
The 2023 licence
AEL WCWD013, as varied on 24 October 2023. Replaced by the 2026 licence.
Our press release
RDAG lodges appeal against Transnet Saldanha’s new emission licence, 13 October 2026.
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