Renewal and amendment of the environmental clearance certificate for the upgrade of the existing railway line located between Walvis Bay and Kranzberg stations, in the Erongo Region, Namibia. Listed activities triggered by the project include: Listed activity EIA screening finding infrastructure 10.1The construction of- (c) Railways and harbours; The project involves upgrading the existing railway line to a standard of 18.5 tons axle load (tal), which will enable safe rail traffic at a maximum speed of 100 km/h for passengers and 80 km/h for freight. EMP (section 1). Bridge construction, repair, strengthening, and berm construction to prevent sand build-up on the railway tracks; and Replacement of the existing rails and sleepers. Forestry activities (4) The clearance of forest areas, deforestation, aforestation, timber harvesting or any other related activity that requires authorisation in term of the Forest Act, 2001 (Act No. 12 of 2001) or any other law. Minimal vegetation will be cleared across the working areas to allow progress of project activities. It is unlikely that an area greater than 15ha will be cleared, shall this be required, a permit under the Forest Act, No. 12 of 2001 as amended by the Forest Amendment Act, No. 13 of 2005 and its regulations of 2015 should be obtained. EMP (section 5.6). Waste management, treatment, handling, and disposal activities (2.3) The import, processing, use and recycling, temporary storage, transit, or export of waste. • Waste generated during construction, which shall be collected and removed from the site for re-use, recycling, or final disposal at permitted landfill facility. Waste disposal and handling shall comply with waste management specifications. EMP (section 6.6). Mining and quarrying activities (3.2) Other forms of mining or extraction of any natural resources whether regulated by law or not. (3.3) Resource extraction, manipulation, conservation, and related activities The project requires the use of sand for construction related activities. The abstraction of sand and or establishment of borrow pits is required and will be done in accordance with the EMP (section 1.2). Hazardous Substance Treatment, Handling and Storage (9.1) The manufacturing, storage, handling or processing of a hazardous substance defined in the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, 1974. (9.4) The storage and handling of a dangerous goods, including petrol, diesel, liquid petroleum gas or paraffin, in containers with a combined capacity of more than 30 cubic meters at any one location. • In the previous EMP it was stated that fuel tanks should not be larger than 22m3 however the project requires additional fuel storage capacity and therefore propose to store two 23,000lt diesel tanks for the project. EMP (section 1.2). Title of Activity: Upgrade of the existing railway line located between Walvis Bay and Kranzberg stations, in the Erongo Region, Namibia Nature of Activity: The project involves the upgrade of the existing railway line located between Walvis Bay and Kranzberg stations, in the Erongo Region. Scale and Scope of Activity: The project involves upgrading and improving of the railway line from the Walvis Bay to the Kranzberg stations, with a route length of 220 kilometres as illustrated in Figure 1. The existing railway line will be upgraded to a standard of 18.5 tons axle load (tal), which will enable safe rail traffic at a maximum speed of 100 km/h for passengers and 80 km/h for freight to cater for the current and future rail transport logistics service predictions up to the year 2025. The project involves the following activities: - Establishment of laydown areas; - Offloading and loading of rails and turnouts; - Bridge construction, repair, strengthening, and berm construction to prevent sand build-up on the railway tracks; Replacement of the existing rails and sleepers; and - New measures have been refined to prevent and control wind-blown sand on the railway line and these amendments have been included to ensure safety of the railway to prevent derailment.