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 30
QUESTION RESPONSE
sell energy to the national grid.
2. Should development, or if applicable,
expansion of the town/ area concerned in terms
of this land use (associated with the activity
being applied for) occur at this point in time?
3. Does the community/ area need the activity
and the associated land use concerned (is it a
societal priority)?
4. Are there necessary services with
appropriate capacity currently available (at the
time of application), or must additional capacity
be created to cater for the development?
5. Is this development provided for in the
infrastructure planning of the municipality, and if
not, what will the implication be on the
infrastructure planning of the municipality
(priority and placements of services)?
6. Is this project part of a national programme
to address an issue of national concern or
importance?
DESIRABILITY (PLACING)
1. Is the development the best practicable
environmental option (BPEO) for this land/ site?
2. Would the approval of this application
compromise the integrity of the existing
approved Municipal IDP and SDF as agreed to
by the relevant authorities.
Yes. The activities fall outside of SDF area, but are in
line with the Nama Khoi LM SDF which recognises the
need for economic development to create a
sustainable economy which creates employment
opportunities for local people.
Yes. The closing of mines in the municipality has also
contributed to the high unemployment rate which has
increased from 22.41 % in 1996 to 28.49 % in 2001 in
the Namakwa District Municipality area (Namakwa
District Municipality IDP, 2006 - 2011).
The proposed wind and solar energy facilities in
Springbok would not only be a source of income to the
landowners, but it would create job opportunities for
the local community as the construction and operation
of the facilities require a wide range of skill levels which
Springbok can, to a degree, supply.
Secondary economic impacts may include an increase
in service amenities through an increase in contractors
and associated demand for accommodation, etc.
The proposed project would feed into the national
Eskom grid through an onsite connection, which forms
part of the EIA process.
No. It should be noted that once the proposed projects
are operational, there would be a very limited
requirement for municipal services.
Yes. The establishment of the proposed facilities would
strengthen the existing electricity grid for the area.
Moreover, the projects would contribute towards
meeting the national energy target as set by the
Department of Energy (DoE), of a 30 % share of all
new power generation being derived from independent
power producers (IPPs).
Yes. Springbok is a very arid region of the Northern
Cape where agricultural potential is low and cattle,
sheep and goat farming forms the predominant land
use. The area, being proposed for the facilities has a
low agricultural potential which is why the proposed
facilities are well suited and the best practicable
environmental option for this site.
No. The projects fall outside of IDP area, but are in line
with the Nama Khoi IDP which recognizes the need for
economic development to strengthen and improve the
local economy to create a sustainable economy which
© 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