المملكة: Excluding the “military” from the environmental assessment… and prosecuting those who tamper with studies through… "black list"
Timeline of procedures
The regulations set a strict timetable for procedures, as the Ministry gave itself a period not exceeding fifteen days to review the project classification report, and sixty days to review the final study, to ensure that the wheel of development is not disrupted while maintaining quality.It stipulates New Controls Providers of consulting services must have a documented professional record that includes the completion of at least three similar studies during the past five years, to ensure the efficiency and scientific accuracy of the outputs.
Consultants must submit a written pledge of complete independence and impartiality, with their record required to be free of any conflict of interest with the strategy owners, to enhance transparency and reliability in the results provided.
The regulations approved deterrent penalties against violating service providers, up to a maximum of A fine of five hundred thousand Saudi riyals, in the event of providing incorrect data or using unqualified personnel.
The new powers give the Ministry the right to stop dealing with violating consulting offices, or deprive them of participating in future studies for specific periods, as an administrative measure to control the quality of the sector.
The owner of the strategy is obligated to involve stakeholders and the public in the stages of the study whenever possible, to ensure transparency and take views on the potential environmental and social impacts of the project.
/>The procedures stress the necessity of aligning new projects with existing national strategies, to avoid any interference that may lead to cumulative environmental damage or negatively affect urban planning and land uses.
In the event of seeking assistance from foreign expert houses, the regulations stipulate obtaining prior approval from the Ministry, with the obligation to include in contracts clauses that guarantee the implementation of regulatory penalties within the Kingdom to ensure legal sovereignty.
These moves aim to enable the competent authorities to monitor cross-border environmental impacts, And developing proactive solutions that enhance the Kingdom’s position in global sustainable development indicators.
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