THE National Environment Management Council (NEMC) has approved and granted a total of 4,570 environmental certificates between 2020/21 and 2024, it has been revealed.

NEMC director general, Dr Immaculate Semesi said in Dodoma yesterday that the council granted 3,058 environmental impact assessment (EIA) projects, 765 audit projects, 169 conditional modification certificates, 552 ownership transfer certificates, 53 provisional certificates (PEC) and one surrendered certificate.

Addressing journalists on the council’s achievement on the four years of the sixth phase government, she said on the implementation of environmental impact assessment (EIA) projects, the council registered a total of 8,058 projects, of which 5,784 were EIA and 2,274 were environmental audits.

Dr Semesi added that a total of 3,836 expert meetings were held to review EIA and audit reports, providing key recommendations for improvements.

To enhance efficiency in processing EIA permits, the council introduced an electronic system for project registration and approval, significantly improving service delivery.

Before the system, approximately 900 projects were registered annually, whereas after its implementation, over 2,000 projects are now registered each year.

“This marks a major transformation under the leadership of President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan in the sixth phase government.”, she noted.

Between 2020/21 and 2024/25, the council successfully registered 1,023 environmental experts and issued 503 practicing certificates to those who met the qualifications under the 2021 environmental experts registration and practice regulations.

 During the period under review, NEMC conducted inspections in 178 production and distribution areas, where 57 were found in violation and faced legal action.

It confiscated and destroyed 150 tons of substandard plastic packaging. She said, “Controlling plastic waste requires collective responsibility from families to the national level to achieve positive environmental outcomes”.

Over four years, the council conducted 9,606 environmental inspections and addressed 1,483 pollution complaints, primarily related to noise and vibrations. Environmental pollution was monitored in major projects with high-risk indicators, such as the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

On environmental permits and hazardous waste monitoring, over the past four years NEMC issued 781 environmental permits,1,477 hazardous waste tracking documents were processed, with 1,089 reviewed.

At least 165,834 tons of hazardous waste, including scrap metals, used batteries, tires, glass, waste oil, plastics, and electronic waste, were successfully monitored nationwide

According to the NEMC boss, there are ongoing research aims to determine the environmental impact of non-woven bags and their compliance with sustainability standards.

Reports have also been compiled on issues such as flood risks in Rufiji, Singida, and Mpwapwa (Dodoma), soil erosion in Same (Kilimanjaro), Kawetere and Livingstone Mountains (Mbeya), and Hanang (Manyara).

However, Dr Semesi noted that despite progress, challenges persist, including shortage of qualified environmental experts, plastic waste mismanagement and hazardous pollutants and uncontrolled discharge of industrial chemicals into water sources.

She said, “There is a need to strengthen environmental governance, particularly in plastic bag control, industrial and mining waste management as well as protection of major lakes such as Victoria and Tanganyika.’”

Dr Semesi maintained that NEMC remains committed to ensuring a safe and sustainable environment for present and future generations, urging stakeholders and citizens to participate actively in environmental conservation for national development.