Alecia Pienaar

Counsel

Alecia Pienaar is Counsel in our Corporate & Commercial and Environmental Law practice areas, advising on specialised environmental law matters in various corporate and industrial sectors.

Alecia Pienaar

About Alecia

Alecia joined CDH in 2016 as Candidate Attorney and was appointed as Associate in 2018. She was promoted to Senior Associate in 2021. In 2022, Alecia joined the Private Markets team at Mainstream Renewable Power South Africa, and rejoined CDH in 2023 as Counsel.

  

Areas of expertise

Experience

  • Conducting environmental, regulatory and health and safety due diligence investigations in respect of entities operating or providing services in various C&I sectors.

  • Advising IPPs on bid readiness and participating in bid preparation for renewable and non-renewable projects in the REIPPPP and RMIPPPP.

  • Preparing REIPPPP and RMIPPPP bid requirement environmental legal opinions for solar, wind and gas facilities.

  • Preparing legal opinions and advising clients on all aspects of environmental law, including regulation of air quality, water, biodiversity, waste management, climate change, and contaminated land.

  • Reviewing and assisting clients with environmental and other regulatory permits applications.

  • Assisting clients with administrative appeal and review applications.

  • Offering advice to clients on specialized environmental areas, including environmental attributes, biodiversity offsets, bioprospecting, greenhouse gas emission reporting and financial provisioning.

Credentials

Education

  • LLB, North West University, Potchefstroom
  • LLM, University of Cape Town
  • Certificate of Competence in Climate Change & Energy Law, University of Witwatersrand
  • Certificate of Completion in Finance, Contracts & Risk Mitigation for Private Power Investment in Africa, University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business

LANGUAGES

  • Afrikaans
  • English

News

Draft Health Care Risk Waste Norms and Standards published for comment
Environmental Law

Draft Health Care Risk Waste Norms and Standards published for comment

On 3 February 2026, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment issued a notice under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008 (NEMWA), requesting the...

Closing the gap on transitional waste authorisations under NEMWA
Corporate & Commercial Law

Closing the gap on transitional waste authorisations under NEMWA

On 10 December 2025, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (Minister) issued a notice (Notice) under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008 (NEMWA),...

NTCSA releases practice note and updated GCCA on congestion curtailment
Projects & Energy

NTCSA releases practice note and updated GCCA on congestion curtailment

The National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) first submitted an application to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 24 May 2024 requesting approval...

NERSA ramps up decision-making to enable grid access and increase market competitiveness
Projects & Energy

NERSA ramps up decision-making to enable grid access and increase market competitiveness

During the last week of November 2025, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) announced a series of decisions that collectively accelerate South Africa’s shift to a...

Revised guideline on climate change implications in environmental permit applications released for comment
Environmental Law

Revised guideline on climate change implications in environmental permit applications released for comment

On 24 October 2025, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published the revised draft National Guideline for the Consideration of Climate Change Implications in Applications...

Unpacking the IRP2025
Projects & Energy

Unpacking the IRP2025

Following a media briefing on 19 October 2025, the Minister of Electricity and Energy (Minister) gazetted the Integrated Resource Plan 2025 (IRP2025) on 28 October 2025, which sets...

Understanding the 2023 Grid Emission Factors Report
Environmental Law

Understanding the 2023 Grid Emission Factors Report

On 25 July 2025, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) published South Africa’s third annual Grid Emission Factors (GEF) Report (Report) for the 2023 calendar...

The trader’s legal landscape
Projects & Energy

The trader’s legal landscape

The ongoing liberation of the South African energy market has, as a natural consequence, stimulated interest in the trade and aggregation of electricity, with, as far as we are aware,...

Balancing energy demands and environmental goals
Environmental Law

Balancing energy demands and environmental goals

Alecia Pienaar, Counsel in the Environmental Law sector, was recently featured in the Sunday Times Supplement, where she discussed 'Balancing energy demands and environmental goals.'

Significant changes proposed to waste exclusion legal regime
Environmental Law

Significant changes proposed to waste exclusion legal regime

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (Minister) recently published draft regulations (Draft Regulations) that propose to amend the Regulations regarding the Exclusion...

Opportunity to connect: Section 34 determination and draft regulations pave the way for private sector involvement in new electricity transmission infrastructure
Projects & Energy

Opportunity to connect: Section 34 determination and draft regulations pave the way for private sector involvement in new electricity transmission infrastructure

The lack of adequate grid capacity is a critical risk that continues to significantly stall progress in the implementation of South Africa’s energy transition, especially in respect...

Newly released 2022 Grid Emission Factors Report: A guide to accurate emission reporting for electricity usage
Environmental Law

Newly released 2022 Grid Emission Factors Report: A guide to accurate emission reporting for electricity usage

In the face of an increasingly environmentally-conscious landscape, South African businesses have been under pressure to accurately report on their carbon footprint, particularly in...

Carbon Tax Phase Two: Impact on the agricultural sector
Agriculture, Aquaculture & Fishing

Carbon Tax Phase Two: Impact on the agricultural sector

On 13 November 2024, National Treasury released the Discussion Paper on Phase Two of the South African Carbon Tax (Discussion Paper). In a media statement published alongside the Discussion Paper,...

Revisiting an old gem in the circularity era: Reprocessing of tailings under the Ataqua judgment
Mining & Minerals

Revisiting an old gem in the circularity era: Reprocessing of tailings under the Ataqua judgment

According to PwC’s SA Mine 2024 report (Report), which was released on 1 October 2024, “ The South African mining sector has experienced a hive of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity...

The impact of the Climate Change Act on the mining sector
Environmental Law

The impact of the Climate Change Act on the mining sector

The Climate Change Act 22 of 2024 (Act) was signed into law on 23 July 2024, which represents a key development in the country’s ongoing commitment to tackling environmental consequences...

Companies to take heed of mounting climate change litigation risks, advises Alecia Pienaar, Counsel in our Environmental Law practice during a eNCA interview.
Environmental Law

Companies to take heed of mounting climate change litigation risks, advises Alecia Pienaar, Counsel in our Environmental Law practice during a eNCA interview.

Draft Health Care Risk Waste Norms and Standards published for comment
Environmental Law

Draft Health Care Risk Waste Norms and Standards published for comment

On 3 February 2026, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment issued a notice under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008 (NEMWA), requesting the...

Closing the gap on transitional waste authorisations under NEMWA
Corporate & Commercial Law

Closing the gap on transitional waste authorisations under NEMWA

On 10 December 2025, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (Minister) issued a notice (Notice) under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008 (NEMWA),...

NTCSA releases practice note and updated GCCA on congestion curtailment
Projects & Energy

NTCSA releases practice note and updated GCCA on congestion curtailment

The National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) first submitted an application to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 24 May 2024 requesting approval...

NERSA ramps up decision-making to enable grid access and increase market competitiveness
Projects & Energy

NERSA ramps up decision-making to enable grid access and increase market competitiveness

During the last week of November 2025, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) announced a series of decisions that collectively accelerate South Africa’s shift to a...

Revised guideline on climate change implications in environmental permit applications released for comment
Environmental Law

Revised guideline on climate change implications in environmental permit applications released for comment

On 24 October 2025, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published the revised draft National Guideline for the Consideration of Climate Change Implications in Applications...

Unpacking the IRP2025
Projects & Energy

Unpacking the IRP2025

Following a media briefing on 19 October 2025, the Minister of Electricity and Energy (Minister) gazetted the Integrated Resource Plan 2025 (IRP2025) on 28 October 2025, which sets...

Understanding the 2023 Grid Emission Factors Report
Environmental Law

Understanding the 2023 Grid Emission Factors Report

On 25 July 2025, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) published South Africa’s third annual Grid Emission Factors (GEF) Report (Report) for the 2023 calendar...

The trader’s legal landscape
Projects & Energy

The trader’s legal landscape

The ongoing liberation of the South African energy market has, as a natural consequence, stimulated interest in the trade and aggregation of electricity, with, as far as we are aware,...

Balancing energy demands and environmental goals
Environmental Law

Balancing energy demands and environmental goals

Alecia Pienaar, Counsel in the Environmental Law sector, was recently featured in the Sunday Times Supplement, where she discussed 'Balancing energy demands and environmental goals.'

Significant changes proposed to waste exclusion legal regime
Environmental Law

Significant changes proposed to waste exclusion legal regime

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (Minister) recently published draft regulations (Draft Regulations) that propose to amend the Regulations regarding the Exclusion...

Opportunity to connect: Section 34 determination and draft regulations pave the way for private sector involvement in new electricity transmission infrastructure
Projects & Energy

Opportunity to connect: Section 34 determination and draft regulations pave the way for private sector involvement in new electricity transmission infrastructure

The lack of adequate grid capacity is a critical risk that continues to significantly stall progress in the implementation of South Africa’s energy transition, especially in respect...

Newly released 2022 Grid Emission Factors Report: A guide to accurate emission reporting for electricity usage
Environmental Law

Newly released 2022 Grid Emission Factors Report: A guide to accurate emission reporting for electricity usage

In the face of an increasingly environmentally-conscious landscape, South African businesses have been under pressure to accurately report on their carbon footprint, particularly in...

Carbon Tax Phase Two: Impact on the agricultural sector
Agriculture, Aquaculture & Fishing

Carbon Tax Phase Two: Impact on the agricultural sector

On 13 November 2024, National Treasury released the Discussion Paper on Phase Two of the South African Carbon Tax (Discussion Paper). In a media statement published alongside the Discussion Paper,...

Revisiting an old gem in the circularity era: Reprocessing of tailings under the Ataqua judgment
Mining & Minerals

Revisiting an old gem in the circularity era: Reprocessing of tailings under the Ataqua judgment

According to PwC’s SA Mine 2024 report (Report), which was released on 1 October 2024, “ The South African mining sector has experienced a hive of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity...

The impact of the Climate Change Act on the mining sector
Environmental Law

The impact of the Climate Change Act on the mining sector

The Climate Change Act 22 of 2024 (Act) was signed into law on 23 July 2024, which represents a key development in the country’s ongoing commitment to tackling environmental consequences...

From vision to fruition.