Plans have been unveiled for unification of the issuance of investment permits related to environmental sector

Plans to standardise the granting of investment licences pertaining to the environmental sector were revealed by the Saudi National Centre for Environmental Compliance. The centre declared that it will begin updating the first investor list of activities and categorising them according to how they affect the environment.

The centre must classify the activities on the list according to how they affect environmental circles and sensitive receptors, thus this update is anticipated to be finished in the first quarter of this year.

One of the department's objectives for 2024, according to Eng. Abdullah Al-Kaabi, director of the center's permits department, is to standardise the processes for issuing permits. This will involve creating standardised models for assessing and approving environmental studies and environmental management plans as well as creating and expediting the issuance and renewal of permits via the center's electronic platform.

According to Al-Kaabi, the centre is in the process of formulating a broad plan to boost the proportion of companies that receive the environmental licences they require. He disclosed that over 3,500 operations were listed on the list.

It should be noted that, in addition to granting more than 140 licences to environmental consulting services offices, the centre issued more than 6,700 operational and construction environmental permits for facilities that have an impact on the environment in 2023, which helped to raise the indicators of the quality of the environmental conditions of the water, air, and soil. By offering top-notch services that help increase the degree of compliance with environmental legislation and standards, the centre aims to preserve and protect the environment, its resources, and prevent them from degrading.