Final EIAR - Aurecon AME Environmental | Environmental Projects

Proposed Wind and Solar (Photovoltaic) Energy Facilities on Kangnas Farm near Springbok in the Northern Cape: Draft EIR 93
supply. This lack of infrastructure entrenches the problems of chronic poverty and limits the
potential of communities to sustain economic growth, rural livelihoods and social development.
b) Impact assessment
In order to facilitate the operation of the proposed wind and energy facilities a need would arise
for the upgrade of various infrastructures such as roads. This impact is not limited to the
construction phase only as it would promote the local economy and business development in
the Springbok area. The local communities would also benefit as the area currently is in need of
various infrastructure upgrades, especially with regards to electricity infrastructure. With the
operations of the wind and solar energy facilities in the local municipal area, it may serve as a
catalyst for additional investment resulting from and relating to the generation and manufacture
of green energy which might lead to additional investment through the continued operations. An
important social benefit of the operations of the development would be skills development. With
the some 500+ individuals that are forecast to be generated by the development (Table 4.4), a
number of these have been designated for FET (further education training). This will enable
local individuals to stimulate their own local economies, should the skills and training obtained
effectively be reintegrated into the local and regional economies.
Table 4.4: Employment during operation phase, for a 250 MW solar and a 750 MW wind
energy facility
Impact Indicator Direct Impact Indirect Impact Induced Impact Total Impact
Alternative Layout 1: Wind Farm
Employment 69 107 46 222
Alternative 1: Photovoltaic Farm
Employment 130 126 53 309
No-Go Alternative:
Business Sales R0 R0 R0 R0
Additional GGP R0 R0 R0 R0
Employment 0 0 0 0
o Impact on infrastructure and resources
As the proposed site for the development is located outside the town of Springbok, it will not
contribute significantly to improvement of the infrastructure of Springbok or other towns in the
area. The proposed development would contribute to more effective electricity infrastructure in
the region, mainly through the efficient and effective supply of electricity to local communities.
The operations of the development may also result in the improvement of road and water
infrastructure in the area.
o Impact on social lives of local communities
Due to possible new business sales and additional production in the local and regional
economies (see operating expenditure in Table 4.5) improved incomes and business
development would be created that would benefit the standard and quality of living for the
Springbok community. In addition, the employment that would be provided and the
recommended skills development that would result from the construction and operations would
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