How is an NCEC environmental permit issued?

Short answer

You apply through NCEC's electronic licensing system with the classification form, the investor ID or commercial registration, the site's national address and the fee. NCEC sets the category, then asks for the study that category needs: an EMP for Category 1, an EIA for Category 2, or a scoping report and EIA for Category 3. Studies and measurements must come from NCEC licensed service providers.

Key terms used in this guide 19 terms

Category 1 activities: Activities expected to produce low environmental impact that does not exceed the perimeter of the activity's site. Arabic: أنشطة الفئة الأولى (meaning “activities of the first category”) Permits reg. Art. 4(4), First
Category 2 activities: Activities expected to produce moderate environmental impact throughout the different stages of the activity. The impact may be alleviated and controlled, and does not largely exceed the perimeter of the activity's site. Arabic: أنشطة الفئة الثانية (meaning “activities of the second category”) Permits reg. Art. 4(4), Second
Category 3 activities: Activities expected to produce significant environmental, social and economic impact, which may exceed the perimeter of the activity's site and adversely affect the sustainability of environmentally sensitive areas and receptors. Arabic: أنشطة الفئة الثالثة (meaning “activities of the third category”) Permits reg. Art. 4(4), Third
Detailed environmental impact assessment study: A study explaining the environmental impacts resulting from the activity and including the basic elements of an EIA (translated from the Arabic guide). Activities within environmentally sensitive areas, or within 500 meters of them or of receptors, must conduct one. Arabic: دراسة مفصلة لتقييم الأثر البيئي (meaning “a detailed study for assessing the environmental impact”) Permits reg. Art. 6, Second (6) and Permit guide, definitions
Environmental classification form: A form submitted to the Center used to determine the category of the suggested activity in terms of environmental impact. Arabic: استمارة التصنيف البيئي (meaning “the environmental classification form”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) study: Study aimed at determining, estimating and evaluating the environmental impact of any activity classified by the Center as category 2 or 3, with the objective of incorporating environmental considerations into the final design of the activity, along with economic, social and security considerations, and identifying the necessary alternatives and measures to protect the environment. Arabic: دراسة تقييم الأثر البيئي (meaning “study of the assessment of the environmental impact”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental management plan (EMP): Measures taken by the person to ensure and sustain environmental compliance. It is submitted as part of the procedures to obtain the environmental permit. Arabic: خطة الإدارة البيئية (meaning “the environmental management plan”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental permit (general): Document issued by the Center to a person before undertaking an activity. Arabic: التصريح (meaning “the permit (authorisation)”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental permit to establish: Document issued by the Center to a person granting him the permission to initiate the establishment of an activity following the completion of its classification and environmental impact assessment, and the prescription of environmental requirements and conditions to comply with during establishment. Arabic: التصريح البيئي للإنشاء (meaning “the environmental permit for construction (establishment)”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental permit to operate: A document issued by the Center to a person granting him the permission to operate the activity. Arabic: التصريح البيئي للتشغيل (meaning “the environmental permit for operation”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental rehabilitation: Any procedure conducted on an environmentally degraded site or one that is affected by environmental damage or pollution, to restore its natural state of environmental balance, in accordance with the standards set by the competent authority. Arabic: إعادة التأهيل البيئي (meaning “environmental re-qualification (restoring to a fit state)”) Rehab reg. Art. 1
Environmentally sensitive areas: Areas with environmental significance whose degradation has negative repercussions for the environment. They include protected areas, parks, forests, wetlands, significant bird habitat, mangroves, landscaped sites, watersheds, water catchment and run-off areas, beaches, waterways, aquifers or any other area identified or declared as environmentally sensitive by the State, the Ministry or the national environmental centers. Arabic: المناطق الحساسة بيئياً (meaning “areas sensitive environmentally”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Expansion: Any action that increases the size of the activity, such as adding a production line (translated from the Arabic guide). Arabic: توسعة (meaning “expansion (widening)”) Permit guide, definitions
Financial dues: An amount of money collected by the competent center from a person for the purpose of issuing or renewing licenses or permits or for providing environmental services. Arabic: المقابل المالي (meaning “the financial consideration”) Fees reg. Art. 1
Licence: A document issued by the Center authorizing a person to undertake an environmental activity. Arabic: الترخيص (meaning “the licence”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Modification of an activity: Any action that modifies the designs of the activity without changing the type of activity (translated from the Arabic guide). Arabic: تعديل نشاط (meaning “modification of an activity”) Permit guide, definitions
Rehabilitation plan: Plan that must be submitted to NCEC for certain Category 1 activities designated at classification, as part of a Category 2 or 3 EIA, whenever an incident requires rehabilitation of the damaged site, or on NCEC request after inspections or audits. Arabic: خطة إعادة التأهيل البيئي للمواقع المتدهورة (meaning “plan for the environmental rehabilitation of degraded sites”) Rehab reg. Art. 5, First (1)
Scoping report: Report detailing the scope of work of the environmental impact assessment of category 3 activities. Arabic: تقرير نطاق دراسة تقييم الأثر البيئي (meaning “report of the scope of the environmental impact assessment study”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Service provider: A person licensed by the competent authority to provide environmental services. The Audit regulation uses the singular مقدم الخدمة (meaning the service provider) for a person licensed by the Center. Arabic: مقدمو الخدمات (meaning “the service providers (those who provide the services)”) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 1 and Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 1

All 49 terms in the NCEC glossary

On this page

Where do you apply?
Which documents does every application need?
What does each category submit for a permit to establish?
Who may prepare the studies?
What happens after NCEC receives the application?

Where do you apply?

Applications are made through NCEC's electronic system for environmental licences and permits.^{NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, rules section}

A permit to establish is needed for any of these:^{NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, controls section}

a new activity
an expansion of an existing activity
a modification
an added activity.

One permit can cover the main activity and its support activities on the same site.^{NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, controls section}

Which documents does every application need?

Every application to NCEC includes:^{NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, general requirements}

the environmental classification form
the investor's ID, the commercial registration, or the unified number for a non-government entity without a CR
the national address of the site
the valid environmental permit, when applying for an expansion, modification or added activity
payment of the fee under the financial dues regulation.

What does each category submit for a permit to establish?

What you submit depends on the category NCEC sets:

Category 1	Environmental management plan, plus a rehabilitation plan for activities on NCEC's list
Category 1 within 500 m of sensitive areas or receptors	Detailed EIA with the environmental management plan inside it
Category 2	EIA study for Category 2 and an undertaking to implement its findings
Category 3	Scoping report first, then the Category 3 EIA once NCEC approves the scope, and an undertaking to implement its findings

Asking a Category 1 project for an EIA does not raise its category.^{NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, technical requirements}

Table source^{NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, technical requirements}

Who may prepare the studies?

NCEC only accepts work from service providers it has licensed for that activity:^{NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, conditions section}

Environmental studies: licensed for environmental studies and consultancy.
Measurements and laboratory analysis: licensed for monitoring environmental media and pollution sources.
Environmental management and rehabilitation plans: licensed for environmental plans.

What happens after NCEC receives the application?

The application then moves through three stages:

NCEC sets the category within 10 working days of the classification form.^{Permits reg. Art. 5(2)}
NCEC reviews the study and decides. It may change the category based on the EIA and then ask for the requirements of the new category.^{NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, controls section}
Once the EIA is approved, you still need the licences and permits of the other relevant authorities.^{NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, EIA controls}

Before operation

After an expansion or modification is built, the permit holder must notify NCEC before operating it. A new facility applies for its permit to operate with the previous permit, its conditions, and an undertaking to submit measurements within 3 months of starting operation.

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References

Each small number in this guide shows the article or section that point comes from. Hover over or tap a number to see it, or open the full list below.

Show all 7 references and the 2 regulation texts

NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, rules section
NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, controls section
NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, general requirements
NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, technical requirements
NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, conditions section
Permits reg. Art. 5(2)
NCEC guide LO-1-M-005, EIA controls

How to read these references 2 texts cited

NCEC guide LO-1-M-005: A guide to issuing and renewing environmental permits for the construction and operation of activities (NCEC, LO-1-M-005)
Permits reg.: Executive Regulations for Environmental Permits to Establish and Operate Activities

Art. 7(4)(b) means Article 7, paragraph 4, item (b).

Every text we cite is listed on our regulations page.

Regulation texts this guide is written from

NCEC guide LO-1-M-005-V01 for issuing and renewing environmental permits
Executive Regulations for Environmental Permits to Establish and Operate Activities

This guide is general information written from the regulation texts listed above. It is not legal advice. Regulations change, and the official text always prevails. Spotted something out of date? Request a change.