Service

Energy and Climate Change

Energy

Expertise

  • Legal risk assessments and due diligence and of all environmental issues associated with bidders projects in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) projects
  • Due diligence of all environmental issues regarding energy projects on behalf of lenders and investors, particularly solar PV plants, wind and biomass plants.
  • Extensive experience with the South African nuclear, renewable energy and oil and gas energy regimes
  • Representations on behalf of clients to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA)

Project Experience

N

Advised SOLA Group in respect of the development, financing, construction and operation of 2 x 100 MW solar PV facilities and a 1 x 100 MW wind energy facility with the energy to be wheeled to various sites.

N

Advising Bellmall Energy in respect of the development, financing, construction and operation of a 62 MWp solar generation plant, in South Africa, with the energy to be distributed directly to a number of industrial offtakers

N

Conducting Due Diligence investigations for various Solar PV plants for investors focussed on environmental and regulatory issues including Droogfontein PV Plant, Zeerust PV Plant (2018) and Postmasburg.

N

Conducting due diligence investigations for a Biomass plant in Mkhuze, KwaZulu Natal for an investor focussed on environmental and regulatory issues and Ngodwana, Mpumalanga.

N

Acted for Thabametsi Power Company (Pty) Ltd, an independent coal-fired baseload project.

N

Acted for Pelkbuck (Pty) in securing an exploration licence for natural gas in Botswana.

N

Renewable Energy Policy Mapping Study for the Republic of South Africa on behalf of the German Business Cooperation Association.

N

Investigating the feasibility of rehabilitating old mine affected land through establishing a solar photo-voltaic (solar PV) plant.

N

Senior environmental legal counsel to BP Southern Africa regarding a variety of environmental issues particularly the expansion of facilities and development of retail fuel filling stations.

N

Investigating and presenting to industry members regarding the effects of renewable energy policies such as the Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT).

N

Attorney to the Limpopo Environmental Action Forum (LEAF), a non-profit community-based organisation which lobbied for the expansion of Eskom’s renewable energy programme in the face of Eskom’s proposed new coal fired power stations – Medupi and Kusile.

N

External counsel to Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR), the South African nuclear company involved in investigating the feasibility and design of new-technology, modular, nuclear reactors.

CLimate Change and Sustainability

Expertise

  • Assisting an agri-producer with developing a carbon offset calculator and offsetting mechanism to ensure a Carbon Neutral business plan. This was the first wine estate to achieve carbon neutrality in South Africa and only the third in the world.
  • Advising clients in the South African mining sector regarding options for the journey to Net Zero. Developed together with the mine’s water footprint as the two critical issues for the mines are water security and the pathway to Net Zero.
  • Experience advising clients in several aspects of Climate Change including trading in verified carbon credits, exploring mechanisms under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and offsetting carbon emissions.
  • Due diligence of clients and client’s suppliers value chains (lifecycle assessments) to ensure climate change impacts are accurate and verified.
  • Advising clients regarding policy and legislation around the Just Transition.
  • Reviewing and providing critical analysis of Climate Change Impact Assessment Reports (CCIARs).
  • Drafting and reviewing Certified Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreements.
  • Advising clients on Climate Change overlap areas such as biodiversity impacts and water security.

Project Experience

N

Assisted Food and Trees for Africa with developing a carbon offset calculator and general advice concerning carbon offsets for businesses.

N

Advising Backsberg Estate Cellars with the development and implementation of a carbon neutral business plan.

N

Advised Exxaro Resources Limited regarding options for the journey to Net Zero.

N

Advising a client on the use of LNG as a transition fuel (confidential).

N

Advising in trading in verified carbon credits and offsetting carbon emissions.

N

Reviewing and assessing the CCIAR’s for the Thabametsi project and a LNG project (confidential).

N

Due diligence of clients and client’s suppliers value chains (lifecycle assessments).

Office Hours

Monday to Friday – 8:00 am to 17:00 pm

Contact Info

4 Athlone Rd,
Parkview,
Johannesburg,
2193

072 533 4399

adam@gunnattorneys.co.za