The South African government is to engage the services of private consultants to deal with what President Thabo Mbeki dubbed as a ‘quite frightening’ backlog in the processing of environmental-impact assessments (EIAs).

The backlog is said to be holding up fixed-investment projects across the country and Mbeki is convinced that it was undermining economic growth and development.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet lekgotla briefing on Sunday, Mbeki lamented the slow pace of EIA processing, which he said needed to be addressed.

He indicated that provincial governments were in particular need off assistance, reporting that he had seen one instance where a project had been held up in the approval process for six years.

He admitted to not remembering the precise number of outstanding decisions, but confirmed that the number was “frightening”. “I wish I could remember the exact number of outstanding applications, province by province . . . some of them are quite frightening,” Mbeki said.

But he continued to stress the need for EIA records or decision, which were important, he said, to ensuring that mining, industrial and property developments were undertaken with due regard to the environmental integrity of the country.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism had, therefore, been given a mandate at the July lekgotla, which took place in Tshwane from Wednesday to Friday last week, to appoint consultants to help deal with the backlog.

New EIA regulations, were also passed in July, which Mbeki said should smooth the processing of decisions and should ensure that no backlog develops in future.

A number of potential investors have raised concerns about South Africa’s EIA procedures, which led to the creation of new regulations. However, some concern has already been expressed about whether these new rules might not slow the process even further.

“Despite the new regulations, it is necessary for us to put in additional personnel, even if it is on a short-term basis, just to deal with this backlog. Quite how much investment was delayed as a result, I really don’t know, but it appears really quite significant. If you looked at the number, you will find that it sometimes takes six years before an assessment is done. So I’m sure this has resulted in quite considerable slowing down of possible economic activity,” Mbeki elaborated.