Final EIAR - Aurecon AME Environmental | Environmental Projects

Proposed Wind and Solar (Photovoltaic) Energy Facilities on Kangnas Farm near Springbok in the Northern Cape: Final EIR 2
The minimum size for a wind project at the Kangnas site, which would be competitive and affordable
and hence a viable option for DoE to select, would be 280 MW, thus two of the proposed four phases.
Phase A and B would be preferred by the developer due to the superior resource and limited
environmental impacts of these phases.
The minimum size for a solar project at the Kangnas site, which would be competitive and affordable
and hence a viable option for DoE to select, would be 225 MW, thus all three of the proposed phases.
It should be noted that Eskom’s current future planning for the Nama/Aggeneys 220 kV line is to
upgrade to 400 kV. Should Eskom embark on the 400 kV upgrade in the near future all four phases
(560 MW) of the proposed Kangnas wind farm would be required in order for the project to be
affordable.
The proposed wind and solar energy facilities and associated substations are located approximately
48 km east of Springbok in the Northern Cape and can be accessed via the N14 as illustrated in
Figure 1.1. Aurecon South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Aurecon) has been appointed to undertake the requisite
environmental process as required in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (No. 107
of 1998), as amended, on behalf of Mainstream.
In terms of the National Environmental Management Act (No. 107 of 1998) (as amended) (NEMA),
the proposed projects trigger a suite of activities, which require authorisation from the competent
environmental authority before they can be undertaken. As these proposed projects trigger a number
of listed activities in terms of NEMA, they accordingly require environmental authorisation. Since the
projects are for the generation of energy, and energy projects are dealt with by the national authority,
the competent authority is the national Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). DEA’s decision
will be based on the outcome of this EIA process.
This report serves to document the EIA Phase of the EIA process (the EIA process and sequence of
documents produced as a result of the process are illustrated in Figure 1.2).
The EIA Phase is the last phase in the EIA process. Accordingly, this EIA Report (EIR) 1 aims to
collate, synthesise and analyse information from a range of sources to provide sufficient information
for DEA to make an informed decision on whether or not the potential environmental impacts
associated with the proposed project are acceptable from an environmental perspective (the EIA
process and sequence of documents produced as a result of the process are illustrated in Figure
1.2).
1 Section 31 of EIA Regulation No. 543 of NEMA lists the content required in an EIR.
© Aurecon (2012) No unauthorised reproduction, copy
or adaptation, in whole or in part, may be made.
P:\Projects\108495 Kangnas WEF & PV EIA's\3 Project Delivery\4 Reports\FEIR\FEIR 210213 Final.doc