Energy law and environmental protection in South Africa

South Africa's energy legislation is fragmented. Specific issues are regulated by different acts, which may confuse developers. One of the major criticisms against South African energy legislation is that it does not address the cycle of sourcing, exploitation, generation or production, transportation, distribution and consumption. These issues are either not dealt with or are to be found in different pieces of legislation. Legislation is focused on governmental control and the functions of the regulators. The pre-1994 dispensation was more focused on exploitation rather than taking into account people and the environment. In recent energy legislation, however, more emphasis is placed on health, safety and environmental matters. In this paper South African legislation dealing with energy and environment is discussed in order to make recommendations for change.