OPAZ issues a decision to regulate environment procedures in Special Economic Zones & Free Zones

OPAZ issues a decision to regulate environment procedures in Special Economic Zones & Free Zones

March 13, 2023

The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) issued a decision regulating environmental procedures in special economic zones and free zones. The decision included several items related to the control of permits, & environmental studies, environmental monitoring procedures, collection of reports, data and information, and compliance procedures in the zones affiliated to the Authority.

Resolution No. (37/2023) included a number of procedures for issuing environmental permits and studies, specified the obligation of the zones’ management to issue, renew environmental permits and licenses of all projects, and to review environmental studies and EIA studies.

The decision stipulates that the zones affiliated to the authority shall draft the environmental requirements for their new projects (heavy industries), & if similar new project is established, whether in the same zone or another zone, the requirements that were previously approved will be applicable, and the management of each zone shall be responsible for the environmental requirements of medium and light industries.

The decision came for the management of each zone to be responsible for monitoring and examining projects and continuous follow-up to ensure their compliance with the laws, regulations and policies approved by OPAZ and to prepare the necessary reports. OPAZ Compliance and Environmental Affairs Department is also committed to preparing a unified form for collecting and evaluating data and information of each zone, in addition to preparing a form for examination and field visits to ensure all laws, policies, regulations and frameworks approved by the Authority are fulfilled.

As for the environmental monitoring item, the decision also stipulates that the management of each zone shall commit to set requirements for monitoring environmental pollutants in accordance with the environmental requirements, and to analyse  and evaluating data and information.

As for the reporting item, the decision stated the importance of collecting data and information according to the form approved by OPAZ and to submit it to Compliance and Environmental Affairs Department. The commitment procedures item stated that if projects in each zone, failed to comply with the aforementioned environmental procedures, the Zones management will take legal measures in coordination with the Compliance and Environmental Affairs Department.

It is worth noting that this decision will contribute directly to the unification of environmental procedures for all special economic zones and free zones affiliated to the Authority, which will have a positive impact on facilitating procedures for the investor, saving time and effort, raising work efficiency, distributing responsibilities and roles between the Authority and the zones, and creating a positive investment environment.