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 94
also improve the social dynamics of the local and regional area, by not only providing these
households with a source of income, but also providing them with the means to generate their
own income and create additional employment for local communities.
o Impact on employment and income
Employment opportunities generated during the operational phase is assumed to be more
permanent in nature, as this employment created pertains to each year that the proposed
facilities would be in operation. Although the employment will be distributed locally, regionally
and nationally the creation of over 500 permanent employment opportunities by one developing
sector is a significant positive for South Africa and the local and regional economies.
Table 4.5: Operating expenditure, for a 250 MW solar and a 750 MW wind energy facility
Assumptions Entire Project
Wind Farm
Project Size 750 MW
Project Operating Expenditure R124, 900, 000
Local Expenditure R67, 500, 000
% of local expenditure in Total Project cost
Photovoltaic Plant
54%
Project Size 250 MW 30
Project operating expenditure R86, 000, 000
Local Expenditure R60, 200, 000
% of local expenditure in total project
costs
70%
The potential impact on infrastructure and resources, social lives and income of communities for
both the proposed wind and solar energy facilities is of local to regional extent, very low to low
magnitude and medium term and therefore of very low to low (+) significance. With the
implementation of the mitigation measures for both the wind and solar energy facilities as
recommended below this impact would be of low to medium (+) significance. There would be
no difference in significance for any of the alternatives for the proposed wind or solar energy
facility.
c) Mitigation measures
Mitigation measures for the wind and solar energy facility
o Establish an educational notice board in order to provide an ideal practical learning
environment for local and district schools.
o Source supplies from local labour, businesses and resources, where possible.
o It is recommended that the local government and stakeholders undertake the necessary
studies to ascertain as to whether establishing manufacturing activities in the area
related to the proposed activities and the green energy industry is feasible.
30 This has since reduced to 225 MW but this reduction would not affect this assessment significantly.
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