2012-07-02 De Aar Scoping Report FINAL DRAFT

AS-R-2012-07-01 Document version 1.0 – Draft

Scoping Report:

Proposed solar power generation facilities on the remaining

extent of the farm Vetlaagte No. 4, De Aar, Northern Cape

Province

Prepared for: Ennex Developments

Compiled by: C Da Camara

H Gildenhuys

C Smith

July 2012

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Scoping report: AS-R-2012-07-01

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Prepared by

Scoping report: AS-R-2012-07-01

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Scoping Report: Proposed solar power generation facilities on the remaining

extent of the farm Vetlaagte No. 4, De Aar, Northern Cape

Province

July 2012

Conducted on behalf of:

Ennex Developments

Compiled by:

Project team:

H Gildenhuys (B.Sc. Hons. Wildlife Management) Cand.Sci.Nat

C Da Camara (BSc Hons, Animal, Plants and Environmental Sciences) Pri.Sci.Nat

C Smith (BHCS Hons Archaeology)

GAUTENG PROVINCE: 356 Zwavelpoort, Lynnwood Pretoria, Postnet no 74, Private Bag X07, Arcadia, 0007

Tel: +27-12 751 2160 Fax: +27 (0) 86 607 2406 www.ages-group.com

Offices: Eastern Cape Gauteng Limpopo Province Namibia North-West Province Western Cape Zimbabwe

AGES Board of Directors: SJ Pretorius JA Myburgh JJP Vivier JH Botha H Pretorius THG Ngoepe SM Haasbroek R Crosby JC Vivier FN de Jager CJH Smit AS Potgieter AGES Gauteng Directors: JJP Vivier JC Vivier E van Zyl M Grobler

Draft Scoping Report: Proposed solar power generation facil ities, De Aar

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REPORT DISTRIBUTION LIST

Name Institution

Gideon Greyvenstein Ennex Developments (Pty) Ltd

DOCUMENT HISTORY

Report no Date Version Status

AS-R-2012-07-02 2 July 2012 1.0 Draft for public review


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Although Africa Geo-Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd exercises due care and diligence in

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Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd, w hich has been obtained beforehand. This document is

prepared exclusively for Ennex Developments (Pty) Ltd and is subject to all confidentiality,

copyright and trade secrets, rules, intellectual property law and practices of South Africa.


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. Introduction

AGES (Pty) Ltd w as appointed to facilitate the Scoping and Environmental Impact

Assessment (EIA) Process for the proposed solar pow er generation facilities and

associated infrastructure on the remaining extent of the farm Vetlaagte No. 4, De Aar,

Northern Cape Province.

Surveyor General Code: C03000000000000400000 (refer to Appendix D for a copy of

the deeds).

The Scoping and EIA Process is being undertaken in terms of the National Environmental

Management Act (Act no. 107 of 1998) (NEMA) read w ith the Environmental Impact

Assessment Regulations, 2010 (GNR 543 of 2 August 2010).

The total project area covers an area of 958 Ha and is situated approximately 7 km east

of De Aar (Figure E-1). For the purposes of this project, the farm RE Vetlaagte No. 4 has

been divided into seven portions, each of w hich is allocated to an applicant. The

portions are indicated on the Locality Map (Figure E-2).

Even though the project w ill comprise of seven separate applications, during the EIA

process, the focus w ill be on the w hole of the remaining extent of the farm Vetlaagte 4 in

order to assess the cumulative impact of all the applications. The Scoping and EIA report

w ill thus cover all seven solar pow er generation facilities.

The proposed project w ill entail the construction of photovoltaic (PV) and/or concentrated

photovoltaic (CPV) and/or dish Stirling facilities. The photovoltaic (PV or CPV) facilities

can either consist of stationary (PV) or tracked PV (TPV) systems. Six of the facilities

w ill generate 75 MW each w hile the other facility w ill generate 30 MW.

The site falls w ithin the jurisdiction of the Emthanjeni Local Municipality and the Pixley ka

Seme District Municipality. General Coordinates for the proposed project:

Latitude: 30˚38’52.47” S

Longitude 24˚5’33.11” E


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Figure E-1: Regional Locality Map


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Figure E-2: Site Locality Map


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2. Study Approach and methodology

The seven applicants submitted the environmental authorisation application in terms of

section 24 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) on the 20 February

2012 to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), Pretoria. Acknow ledgement of

receipt of the application w as received from the DEA on 15 May 2012 and a reference

number w as subsequently issued, namely: 14/12/16/3/1/2.

AGES has been appointed to also undertake the Scoping and EIA process on behalf of

the applicants.

3. Project Description

The proposed development w ill entail the construction of seven photovoltaic (PV) and/or

concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) and/or dish Stirling facilities.

The photovoltaic facilities can be either stationary (PV) or tracked PV (TPV) systems. Six

of the facilities w ill generate 75 MW each w hile the other facility w ill generate 30 MW.

The development footprint, capacity and technology of each facility are as show n in

Table E-1.

Table E-1: Development footprint, capacity, technology and operating company of the

different facilities

Portion Ha MW Technology Operating Company

A 151 75 PV/TPV Ennex Solar (Pty) Ltd.

B 143 75 PV/TPV Nexergy Solar (Pty) Ltd.

C 142 75 PV/TPV Inqw aba Energy (Pty) Ltd.

D 148 75 PV/TPV and/or CPV and/or

Dish Stirling

Khaliphile Energy (Pty) Ltd.

E 135 75 PV/TPV and/or CPV and/or

Dish Stirling

Ukuqala Solar (Pty) Ltd.

F 199 75 PV/TPV Lehlasedi Energy (Pty) Ltd.

G 34 30 PV/TPV and/or CPV and/or

Dish Stirling

Ikusasa Energy (Pty) Ltd.


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Each solar pow er generating facility w ill comprise of numerous photovoltaic (PV/TPV)

solar panels and/or concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) panels and/or dish Stirling solar

generators.

The typical dimensions of the PV panel arrays, the CPV trackers, the TPV trackers and

the Dish Stirling trackers are show n in the follow ing f igures.

Figure E-3: Indication of the appearance and dimensions of the proposed solar PV

panels


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Figure E-4: Graphic representation of the Concentrated Photovoltaic system

Figure E-5: Dimensions of the Concentrated Photovoltaic system in meters


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Figure E-6: Graphic representation of the Tracked PV (TPV) system

Figure E-7: Dimensions of Tracked PV (TPV) system in meters


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Figure E-8: Dimensions of Dish Stirling Generator

4. Associated Infrastructure

The follow ing associated infrastructure is envisaged for the solar facilities:

• A new pow er line w ith a capacity of 132 kV, linking the solar pow er generation

facilities to the existing Eskom Hydra Substation.

• A new short 132kV pow er line linking the pow er generation facilities on Portions

F and G to the proposed new 132 kV line.

• Seven sw itching stations (SS) w ith transformers w hich w ill connect to either the

existing 132 kV pow er lines or the proposed new 132 kV pow er line.

• Cabling betw een the PV/TPV panels and/or CPV panels and/or dish Stirling units

and sw itching stations.

• Foundations to support the PV/TPV panels and/or CPV panels and/or dish Stirling

units infrastructure.

• Internal access roads.

• Maintenance building and site off ices.

5. Public Participation

The details of the public participation process as w ell as a summary of the issues raised

by interested and affected parties (I&APs) and the Environmental Assessment

Practitioner’s (EAP) response to the issues raised as contemplated in regulation 28(a)

and 29(1)(h) of the EIA Regulations are captured in a Comments and Response Report

that w ill be submitted as part of this Scoping Report.

Preliminary key issues raised by the I&APs include inter alia the follow ing:

• Energy impact

o Eskom grid connectivity capacity

o Height and profile of proposed pow er line


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• Infrastructure impact

o Impact on Eskom infrastructure

• Surface w ater impacts

• Air quality impact

o Generation of dust due to construction activities such as clearance of

vegetation

o Generation of dust due to movement of vehicles on access roads and

dust pollution

• Socio-economic impacts

o Impact on game and stock farming

o Stock theft

o Impact on tourism

o Accommodation of w orkers

o Indirect loss of income

• Visual impact

o Impact on neighbours

o Impact on tourism

• Sense of place

• Biodiversity impact

o Impacts on indigenous natural vegetation

• Noise impact

o Generation of noise during construction due to the presence of people on

site, as w ell as the movement of vehicles to and from the site.

6. The Site

According to the Environmental Potential Atlas of South Africa (ENPAT, 2000), the

proposed site is situated on an area w hich is classif ied as “Low lands w ith hills”. The

topography of the study site is relatively gentle. The elevation on site varies from 1240 to

1336 m above sea level. There are a number of drainage lines and/or w atercourses on

the site, the main one of w hich constitutes a main tributary of the Brakrivier.

The land cover of the study area consists of a mix of natural veld and unimproved shrub-


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land. The study area falls w ithin the Nama-Karoo Biome (Rutherford & Westfall 1986,

Mucina & Rutherford 2006). The site is zoned as agricultural land and is currently used

for extensive grazing by sheep, cattle and game species such as Springbok and

Blouw ildebeest.

By taking all the site characteristics (climate, geology, land use, slope and soils) into

account the agricultural potential of this site is classif ied as being extremely low for crop

production w hile moderate to moderately low for grazing. This poor agricultural potential

rating is primarily due to restrictive climatic characteristics and soil depth limitations. The

site is not classif ied as high potential nor is it a unique dryland agricultural resource.

The greater study area is situated in the primary catchment of the Orange River and in

quaternary catchment D62D. The site is traversed by a drainage line, f low ing from the

south, originating on the farm Hartebeeshoek 31, crossing the farm Wag 'n Bietjie 5 and

then crossing the farm Vetlaagte 4 from south to north on the eastern side. This

drainage line joins the Brakrivier north w est of the project area. The f low is non-

perennial, w ith a w eakly developed, w ide shallow drainage canal. A smaller drainage

line originates on the eastern corner of Vetlaagte 4, f low ing mainly parallel to the main

drainage line in a northerly direction, w ith the confluence near to the boundary of the

farm.

In terms of heritage resources, there is a prominent Stone Age presence and specifically

Middle Stone Age (MSA) artefacts consisting of cores, blades and scrapers occur

w idely in the area. Three rich MSA scatters occur along the eastern periphery of the

study area along the drainage line w hich extends from the south to the north to become a

tributary of the Brak River, north of the property.

The region is characterised by f lat plains w ith prominent koppies and ridges. Combined

w ith w ide plains of grassland, and interspersed w ith thicket, bushland and bush clumps,

a unique landscape w ith coherent visual character is formed, providing aesthetically

pleasing view s in places. The existence of the tow n 7 km from the development site, as

w ell as infrastructure such as transmission lines and railw ay lines, have collectively

established visual impacts in the region, w hich may provide some visual absorption

capacity to mitigate the visual impact of the proposed solar development.

There are a number of different groups in the social environment that w ill be affected by

the proposed development:

• Adjacent landow ners;


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• People in surrounding tow ns and settlements; and

• Municipalities and technical groups.

Photos of the site are included below :

Figure E-9: View of the general surroundings at Vetlaagte, looking east towards the

Vetlaagte farmstead in the distance

Figure E-10: View of Dolerite outcrops on the western periphery of Vetlaagte, looking

south towards the ESKOM Hydra Substation


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Figure E-11: View of general surroundings west of the Vetlaagte farmstead, looking east

7. Alternatives

In the case of the proposed development, possible alternatives w ere identif ied through

discussions w ith authorities, review ing of existing environmental data, specialist

inputs/studies and the client.

Some of the alternatives that w ill be assessed include:

• Site Alternatives;

• Activity Alternatives;

• Technology Alternatives;

• Layout Alternatives;

• No-go Alternative.

8. Impact Assessment

Key Impacts identif ied by the EAP (AGES), specialists and the public include inter alia:

• Visual Impact

• Biodiversity Impact and impacts on birds

• Soils, land use and land capability


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• Heritage Impact and impact on paleontology

• Socio-economic Impacts

• Impacts on surface w ater resources

• Impacts on Air Quality (dust)

• Noise impacts

• Traff ic

As a result of the above-mentioned anticipated impacts, the specialist studies as listed

below w ill be undertaken during the EIA phase of the process. The specialist studies

assist w ith the development of an understanding of the system processes and the

potential positive and negative impacts of the proposed development on both the social

and biophysical environments:

• Ecological Assessment (David Hoare Consulting)

• Avifauna Impact Assessment (Wildskies Ecological Services)

• Phase 1 Archaeological assessment (AGES)

• Paleontological Assessment (Natura Viva)

• Floodline Delineation (Wetcon)

• Soils and Land Use Potential Evaluation (Terra Africa Consult in conjunction with

SAS Environmental)

• Social Impact Assessment (Tony Barbour Environmental Consulting and

Research)

• Visual Impact Assessment (MetroGIS)

9. Way Forward

1. Plan of Study for EIA. Submitted w ith the Scoping Report. This report includes the

detailed terms of reference for the various specialist studies.

2. Appointment of Specialists. The specialists w ill be appointed to undertake the

specialist studies identif ied in the Scoping Report.


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3. Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The results of the specialist studies will

be synthesized by the project team to provide a draft EIR.

4. Draft EIR published. The draft EIR w ill be made available to registered interested and

affected parties for comment for a period of 30 days. The f indings w ill be summarised

and included in the full EIR and w ill again be made available for review ing.

5. Comments Report. Comments on the Draft EIR w ill be synthesized by the project

team into a Comments and Response Report (IRR), w hich w ill be appended to the f inal

Report.

6. Revise draft EIR. The draft report w ill be updated by addressing and responding to

the issues raised in the IRR. Responses from the proponent to key issues w ill also be

included.

7. Final EIR. The revised f inal report w ill be published w ith the various specialist reports

appended. This w ill be submitted to Department of Environmental Affairs for a f inal

decision w ith respect to the proposed development.


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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation Description

CA Competent Authority

CPV Concentrated Photov oltaic

CSP Concentrated solar power

DAFF Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

DEA Department of Env ironmental Af f airs

DEAT Department of Env ironmental Af f airs and Tourism

DENC Department of Env ironment and Nature Conserv ation

DNI Direct Normal Irradiance

DoE Department of Energy

DWA Department of Water Af f airs

EAP Env ironmental Assessment Practitioner

EEDSM Energy ef f iciency demand-side management

EIA Env ironmental Impact Assessment

ELM Emthanjeni Local Municipality

EMPR Env ironmental Management Programme Report

ENPAT Env ironmental Potential Atlas of South Af rica

HGVs Heav y Goods Vehicle

I & APs Interested and Af f ected Parties

IDP Integrated Dev elopment Plan

IWULA Integrated Water Use License

LED Local Economic Dev elopment

MAMSL Meter Abov e Mean Sea Lev el

MW Megawatts

NCPGDS Northern Cape Prov incial Growth and Dev elopment Strategy

NEMA National Env ironmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998)

NWA National Water Act, 1998 (Act No.36 of 1998)

PkSDM Pixley ka Seme District Municipality

POS Plan of Study

PV Photov oltaic

SAHRA South Af rican Heritage Resources Agency


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TPV Tracked Photov oltaic


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................1

1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND .............................................................................................. 1

1.2 TERMS OF REFERENCE .................................................................................................. 3

1.3 DETAILS OF THE APPLICANT ........................................................................................... 3

1.4 DETAILS OF THE EAP...................................................................................................... 4

1.5 SURFACE RIGHTS .......................................................................................................... 4

1.6 PROJECT MOTIVATION .................................................................................................... 5

1.7 STUDY APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ........................................................................ 6

1.7.1 Environmental Methodology .................................................................................... 7

2 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AUTHORISATION...................................................... 10

2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION OF SOUTH AFRICA ...................................................... 10

2.1.1 Constitution (Act 108 of 1996)............................................................................... 10

2.1.2 The National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998) and the Environmental

Impact Assessment Regulations, 2010 ................................................................................ 10

2.1.3 National Water Act (Act No 36 of 1998) ................................................................. 14

2.2 NATIONAL LEVEL ENERGY POLICIES............................................................................. 15

2.2.1 National Energy Act (Act No 34 of 2008) ............................................................... 15

2.2.2 White Paper on the Energy Policy of the Republic of South Africa (1998) ............ 16

2.2.3 White Paper on Renewable Energy ...................................................................... 17

2.2.4 National Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Electricity (2010-2030) ...................... 18

2.3 PROVINCIAL LEVEL POLICY AND PLANNING ................................................................. 20

2.3.1 Northern Cape Province Provincial Growth and Development Strategy ................. 20

2.4 DISTRICT LEVEL PLANNING AND SPATIAL POLICY CONTEXT ......................................... 21

2.4.1 Pixley ka Seme District Municipality Integrated Development Plan 2009-2012...... 21

2.5 MUNICIPAL LEVEL PLANNING AND SPATIAL POLICY CONTEXT ...................................... 21

2.5.1 Emthanjeni Local Municipality Integrated Development Plan (2010) ..................... 21

2.6 PERMITTING AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS.................................................................. 22

2.6.1 Water Use Licenses............................................................................................... 22

2.6.2 Heritage Permit – Section 36 of NHRA .................................................................. 22

3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE ................................................. 24

3.1 LOCATION .................................................................................................................... 24

3.2 SURROUNDING LAND COVER USES ............................................................................. 24

3.3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION................................................................................................ 32

3.3.1 Solar Power Technologies .................................................................................... 32

3.3.2 Associated Infrastructure ....................................................................................... 37

3.3.3 Services ................................................................................................................ 42

3.4 PROPOSED ACTIVITIES DURING THE PROJECT PHASES ............................................... 42

3.4.1 Construction Phase ............................................................................................... 42

3.4.2 Operation Phase ................................................................................................... 45

3.4.3 Decommissioning Phase........................................................................................ 45

4 ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................. 46


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4.1 PROCESS TO ASSESS ALTERNATIVES............................................................................ 46

4.1.1 Site Alternatives.................................................................................................... 46

4.1.2 Activity Alternatives............................................................................................... 47

4.1.3 Technology Alternatives........................................................................................ 47

4.1.4 Layout Alternatives ............................................................................................... 47

4.1.5 No-Go Alternative.................................................................................................. 48

5 DESCRIPTION OF THE RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT ................................................ 49

5.1 BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT..................................................................................... 49

5.1.1 Topography ........................................................................................................... 49

5.1.2 Climate .................................................................................................................. 49

5.1.3 Geology ................................................................................................................ 50

5.1.4 Soils...................................................................................................................... 51

5.1.5 Water Resources ................................................................................................... 57

5.1.6 Fauna and Flora.................................................................................................... 58

5.1.7 Avifauna................................................................................................................ 60

5.1.8 Socio Economic Environment ................................................................................ 63

5.1.9 Heritage Resources ............................................................................................... 69

5.1.10 Palaeontology....................................................................................................... 73

5.1.11 Visual Environment ............................................................................................... 74

5.1.12 Noise..................................................................................................................... 77

5.1.13 Sensitive Environments ......................................................................................... 77

6 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS .......................................................................... 80

6.1 IDENTIFICATION OF INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTIES........................................... 80

6.2 NOTIFICATION .............................................................................................................. 81

6.3 RAISING OF ISSUES FOR INVESTIGATION BY EIA SPECIALISTS ..................................... 81

6.4 DRAFT SCOPING REPORT............................................................................................. 81

6.5 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DURING THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT PHASE .............................. 82

7 ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS ....................................................................................... 83

7.1 IDENTIFICATION OF KEY ISSUES................................................................................... 83

7.2 SPECIALIST STUDIES.................................................................................................... 85

7.3 THE ASSESSMENT OF THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ......................................................... 86

7.4 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................... 86

7.5 IMPACT ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................... 89

7.6 PLAN OF STUDY (POS) FOR EIA................................................................................... 89

8 CONCLUSION AND RECOMENDATIONS................................................................... 89

8.1 WAY FORWARD ........................................................................................................... 90

9 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 92

10 APPENDIX A COMMENTS AND RESPONSE REPORT......................................... 94

11 APPENDIX B1 CORRESPONDENCE FROM DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ............................................................................................... 95

12 APPENDIX C PLAN OF STUDY FOR EIA ................................................................. 96


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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Locality Map ........................................................................................................... 1

Figure 2: Aerial Locality Map ................................................................................................. 2

Figure 3: Solar Radiation Map of South Africa (SolarGIS, 2012) ........................................... 6

Figure 4: EIA Process according to NEMA (EIA Regulations 2010)......................................... 9

Figure 5: Land Cover Types in the region (MetroGIS, 2012) ................................................ 25

Figure 6: Proposed Solar Facil ities in the area (Google internet search, 2012) .................... 26

Figure 7: View of grassy plains next to the drainage line in the northern portion of Vetlaagte,

looking south .......................................................................................................... 27

Figure 8: View of the general surroundings at Vetlaagte, looking east towards the Vetlaagte

farmstead in the distance ....................................................................................... 27

Figure 9: View of Dolerite outcrops on the western periphery of Vetlaagte, looking south

towards the ESKOM Hydra Substation.................................................................... 28

Figure 10: View grassy plains on the north-western portion of Vetlaagte, looking east............ 28

Figure 11: View of general surroundings west of the Vetlaagte farmstead, looking east ......... 29

Figure 12: Eroded drainage line east of the Vetlaagte farmstead, looking south.................... 29

Figure 13: View of the general surroundings south of the Vetlaagte farmstead, looking east.. 30

Figure 14: Eroded drainage line to the south-east of Vetlaagte, looking north-east................ 30

Figure 15: Drainage line on the south-western portion of Vetlaagte, looking east .................. 31

Figure 16: Drainage line on the southern portion of Vetlaagte, looking east. ......................... 31

Figure 17: Indication of the appearance and dimensions of the proposed solar PV panels .... 34

Figure 18: Graphic representation of the Concentrated Photovoltaic system .......................... 35

Figure 19: Dimensions of the Concentrated Photovoltaic system in meters ............................ 35

Figure 20: Graphic representation of the Tracked PV (TPV) system........................................ 36

Figure 21: Dimensions of Tracked PV (TPV) system in meters ................................................ 36

Figure 22: Dimensions of Dish Stirl ing Generator ................................................................... 37

Figure 23: Dimensions of new proposed distribution lines ...................................................... 39

Figure 24: Position of the site relative to the Hydra Substation showing the existing Eskom

power lines running across the farm, and proposed powerlines associated with the

project. ................................................................................................................... 41

Figure 25: Initial proposed layout and portions, subsequently amended ................................ 48

Figure 26: Average daily maximum temperature (blue), average daily mean temperature (red)

and average daily minimum temperature (green) in °C from month 1 (January) to

month 12 (December)............................................................................................. 49

Figure 27: Annual rainfall (red) and Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) (green) in mm/Month

from month 1 (January) to month 12 (December) ................................................... 50

Figure 28: Land Type Map..................................................................................................... 52

Figure 29: Soils map of the study area ................................................................................... 54

Figure 30: Land capability map ............................................................................................. 55

Figure 31: Animal watering facil ities on the farm ................................................................... 57

Figure 32: Quaternary Catchment Map .................................................................................. 57

Figure 33: Ecological Sensitivity Map .................................................................................... 62

Figure 34: Percentage of people by level of education for 1996 and 2001 Economic

development .......................................................................................................... 64

Figure 35: Percentage of household income below the poverty breadline by district ............. 66

Figure 36: Location of archaeological and heritage sites as discussed in the Archaeological

Impact Assessment Report. ..................................................................................... 72


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Figure 37: Viewer locations: De Aar, farmsteads & roads, and proximity to the site ................ 76

Figure 38: Draft Sensitivity Map ............................................................................................. 78

Figure 39: Draft Sensitivity Map (Aerial) ................................................................................. 79

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Listed activities ......................................................................................................... 12

Table 2: National Energy Development Commitments before the next IRP............................ 19

Table 3: Water Use License Application ................................................................................. 22

Table 4: Development footprint, capacity, technology and operating company of the different

facil ities .................................................................................................................... 32

Table 5: Development footprint, solar collector areas and percentage coverage of the different

technologies on the different pieces of land. ............................................................ 37

Table 6: Construction of a 75 MW plant.................................................................................. 43

Table 7: Construction of a 30 MW plan................................................................................... 43

Table 8: Summary of soil forms in the study area ................................................................... 53

Table 9: Land capability classes for the study area ................................................................. 56

Table 10: Formal employment by sector ............................................................................... 67


1

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND

AGES (Pty) Ltd w as appointed to facilitate the Scoping and Environmental Impact

Assessment (EIA) Process for the proposed solar pow er generation facilities and

associated infrastructure on the remaining extent of the farm Vetlaagte No. 4, De Aar,

Northern Cape Province.

The Scoping and EIA Process is being undertaken in terms of the National

Environmental Management Act (Act no. 107 of 1998) (NEMA) read w ith the

Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2010 (GNR 543 of 2 August 2010).

The total project area covers an area of 958 Ha and is situated approximately 7 km

east of De Aar on the remaining extent of the farm Vetlaagte No. 4, next to Eskom’s

Hydra substation. For the purposes of this project, the farm Vetlaagte No. 4 has been

divided into seven portions, each of w hich is allocated to an applicant. The portions

are indicated in Figure 1.

Even though the project w ill comprise of seven separate applications, during the EIA

process, the focus w ill be on the w hole of the remaining extent of the farm

Vetlaagte 4 in order to assess the cumulative impact of all the applications. The

Scoping and EIA report w ill thus cover all seven solar pow er generation facilities.

The proposed project w ill entail the construction of photovoltaic (PV) and/or

concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) and/or dish Stirling facilities. The photovoltaic facilities

can either consist of stationary (PV) or tracked PV (TPV) systems. Six of the facilities

w ill generate 75 MW each w hile the other facility w ill generate 30 MW.

The site falls w ithin the jurisdiction of the Emthanjeni Local Municipality and the Pixley

ka Seme District Municipality. General Coordinates for the proposed project:

Latitude: 30˚38’52.47” S

Longitude 24˚5’33.11” E


1

Figure 1: Locality Map


2

Figure 2: Aerial Locality Map


AGES -3-

1.2 Terms of reference

The terms of reference for the study are as follow s:

To ensure that all requirements and processes in terms of the Acts mentioned under

Section 1.3 are undertaken, the follow ing tasks need to be conducted:

Environmental Scoping (Current Phase): Initial Investigation, communication,

assessment and consideration of application and potential environmental impacts and

submission of an Environmental Scoping Report and Plan of Study for Environmental

Impact Assessment.

Environmental Impact Assessment: Further investigation of environmental impacts

identif ied during the Scoping Phase and submission of an EIA Report and Environmental

Management Programme Report (EMPR).

Water Use License: A Water use License Application (WULA) may be required and

w ill be evaluated further should the project be approved by the Department of Energy.

The Environmental Authorization Process is described in the f igure below (currently in

Phase 2). After Phases 1 to 3 the public is provided w ith the opportunity to comment:

1.3 Details of the applicant

The details of the applicant are indicated below (also refer to Figure 2):

Details of the Applicant

Full names of the applicants: Ennex Solar (Pty) Ltd

Ikusasa Energy (Pty) Ltd

Inqwaba Energy (Pty) Ltd

Khaliphile Energy (Pty) Ltd

Lehlasedi Energy (Pty) Ltd

Phase 1

PUBLIC

PARTICIPATION

– INITIAL

REGISTRATION

PERIOD

Phase 2

SCOPING

REPORT &

TERMS OF

REFERENCE FOR

SPECIALISTS

(CURRENT PHASE)

Phase 3

EIA REPORT &

EMP WITH

SPECIALIST

STUDIES

Phase 4

DECISION

MAKING BY

RELEVANT

AUTHORITY

Comments Comments Comments


AGES -4-

Nexergy Solar (Pty) Ltd

Ukuqala Solar (Pty) Ltd

Contact person:

Address

Dr Gideon Greyvenstein

P.O Box 66004, Highveld, Gauteng

0169

Telephone number: 012 6674331

Fax number: 012 349 8425

Email address [email protected]

1.4 Details of the EAP

As per the requirements of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No.

107 of 1998), (NEMA) as amended and the Environmental Impact Assessment

Regulations of 2010, the follow ing information is pertinent w ith regards to the

Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs) that has conducted Scoping for the

proposed development.

EAP Qualifications Years

experience

Mr Herman Gildenhuys BSc. Hons. Wildlife

Management) Cand.Sci.Nat

6 years

Ms. Catherine Da Camara B.Sc. Hons. Geography and

Ecology (WITS)

10 years

Ms. Chantal Smith BHSC Hons. Archaeology 4 years

Contact Details of Principal Environmental Assessment Practitioner:

Details of the EAP

Full name of the applicant: AGES (Pty) Ltd

Contact person:

Address

Catherine Da Camara

Postnet 74, P/Bag X07, Arcadia, 0007

Pretoria

Telephone number: 012 751 2160

Fax number: 086 607 2406

Email address [email protected]

1.5 Surface Rights

The surface rights are held by L.D.P Boerdery (Proprietary) Limited (Mr Lambert Du

Plessis Pienaar).


AGES -5-

1.6 Project Motivation

The population of the w orld has been increasing at a rapid pace in the last few decades

and this has led to an increase in demand for a number of resources such as w ater,

food and energy. Natural resources such as coal, oil and gas are fast depleting and the

fear of climate change is putting pressure on the energy sector to move aw ay from non-

renew able sources for producing energy and concentrate on renew able sources to

meet energy demands. The energy industry is facing a challenge to meet energy

demands in the face of depleting natural resources w hile simultaneously having to

reduce carbon emissions (Ennex Developments, 2012).

The South African National Energy Association believes that Africa’s energy supplies

w ould have to increase at least fourfold by 2025, if the continent w ere to meet the

energy demand of its people. Ideally the largest portion of that supply should come from

renew able sources (Deloitte, 2012).

South Africa is one of the best located regions for Concentrated Solar Pow er (CSP) with

some of the highest levels of Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) in the w orld. The Northern

Cape region of the country experiences levels of more than 2 900 kWh/m2, signif icantly

more than some of the other CSP hot spots such as Spain and Southern California

(SESSA, 2012). Solar pow er generation is high on the government's priority list of

preferred renew able technologies. Refer to Figure 3 for the solar radiation map of South

Africa.


AGES -6-

Figure 3: Solar Radiation Map of South Africa (SolarGIS, 2012)

It is crucial that the private sector plays a role in addressing the future electricity needs

of the country. This w ill reduce the funding burden on Government, relieve the borrowing

requirements of Eskom and introduce generation technologies that Eskom may not

consider part of its core function w hich may play a vital role in the future electricity

supply options, in particular off-grid, distributed generation, co-generation and small-

scale renew able projects.

The introduction of private sector generation thus has multiple benefits. It w ill contribute

greatly to the diversif ication of both the supply and nature of energy production, assist in

the introduction of new skills and capital into the industry, and enable the benchmarking

of performance and pricing.

South Africa has tw o acts that direct the planning and development of the country’s

electricity sector:

i. The National Energy Act of 2008 (No. 34 of 2008)

ii. The Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) of 2006 (No. 4 of 2006).

In May 2011, the Department of Energy (DoE) gazetted the Electricity Regulations on New

Generation Capacity under the ERA. The New Generation Regulations establish rules and

guidelines that are applicable to the undertaking of an Independent Pow er Producers (IPP)

Bid Programme and the procurement from an IPP for new generation capacity (Eskom

2012).

South Africa aims to produce 3725 MW capacity of renew able energy by 2016 (the first

round of procurement). The IPP Procurement Programme has been designed to

contribute tow ards the target of 3725 MW as w ell as tow ards socio-economic and

environmentally sustainable grow th, and to start and stimulate the renew able industry in

South Africa (IPP-Renew ables, 2012).

1.7 Study Approach and methodology

The seven applicants (Ennex Solar (Pty) Ltd; Ikusasa Energy (Pty) Ltd; Inqw aba Energy

(Pty) Ltd; Khaliphile Energy (Pty) Ltd; Lehlasedi Energy (Pty) Ltd; Nexergy Solar (Pty) Ltd;

and Ukuqala Solar (Pty) Ltd) submitted the environmental authorisation application in

terms of section 24 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) on 20

February 2012 to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), Pretoria.

Acknow ledgement of receipt of the application w as received from the DEA on 15 May

2012 and a reference number w as subsequently issued, namely: 14/12/16/3/1/2.


AGES -7-

1.7.1 Environmental Methodology

The general approach to this study has been guided by the principles of Integrated

Environmental Management (IEM). In accordance w ith the Integrated Environmental

Management Guidelines (DEAT, 2004), an open, transparent approach, w hich

encourages accountable decision-making, has been adopted. The study has also been

guided by the requirements of the NEMA (Act 107 of 1998) as stipulated in Section 2.1.2.

(Also refer to Figure 4).

The application for environmental authorization is subject to scoping and environmental

impact assessment contemplated in Part 3 of the EIA Regulations. As part of the scoping

and EIA process a Scoping Report must be prepared in terms of regulation 28(f) and in

accordance w ith regulation 29 of the EIA Regulations.

Scoping is the process of identifying the signif icant issues, alternatives and decision

points that should be addressed in the EIA process. The aim of the Scoping Process is to

support informed decision-making by providing information on the potential environmental

effects of development prior decision-making. The overall aim of the Scoping Phase is to

identify the environmental issues and impacts associated w ith the proposed development

that require further investigation. More specif ically, the objectives are to:

• Identify and inform all authorities, stakeholders and other I&APs of the proposed

activity, alternatives and the EIA process;

• Provide stakeholders w ith the opportunity to participate effectively in the process

and identify any issues and concerns associated w ith the proposed activity;

• Provide a description of the environment that may be affected by the activity and

the manner in w hich the physical, biological, social, economic and cultural

aspects of the environment may be affected by the proposed activity;

• Identify statutory requirements and guidelines

• Identify any additional alternatives and screen out unsuitable alternatives;

• Identify any additional potential impacts and environmental issues that may require

further investigation;

• Ensure that the issues and concerns of stakeholders are accurately recorded

and reflected in the Comments and Response Report (Appendix A ).

The Scoping process comprises tw o parallel and integrated processes:


AGES -8-

• A technical process to identify environmental and social impacts and evaluation

of the impacts; and

• A public participation process to provide I&APs w ith the opportunity to raise their

issues and concerns regarding the proposed project.

The EIA technical process follow ed during the scoping process included:

• Scoping undertaken by specialists w hich involved:

o Assessing previous environmental and technical studies and existing

information;

o Primary screening of the project area;

o Scoping by specialists and baseline reporting;

o Interaction w ith the project team to identify critical issues.

• Compilation of a Scoping Report. The Scoping Report is based on available

information and issues identif ied during the Scoping Phase. The report describes

the existing status of the environment prior to the proposed development,

identif ies potential issues/impacts including cumulative impacts, development of

land use alternatives, the procedure to plan and develop the project and terms of

reference for specialist studies to be conducted during the Environmental Impact

Assessment Phase of the application process.

• Submission of the Scoping Report to the DEA. The draft Scoping Report w ill be

made available to the DEA and I&AP’s in order to provide everyone w ith an

opportunity to comment on the Scoping Report as contemplated in regulation 28(g)

and in accordance w ith regulation 56 of the EIA Regulations. The f inal Scoping

Report incorporating comments received and issued raised by I&APs and the

EAP’s response thereto w ill be submitted to the DEA and I&APs for consideration.


AGES -9-

Figure 4: EIA Process according to NEMA (EIA Regulations 2010)


AGES -10-

2 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AUTHORISATION

There are a number of regulatory requirements at local, provincial and national level to

w hich the proposed development w ill have to conform. A brief summary of the Acts

w hich are relevant to this study are outlined below . Note that other legislative

requirements may pertain to the proposed development, but identif ication and

interpretation of these is beyond the brief of this study. As such, the list provided below

is not intended to be definitive or exhaustive and serves to highlight key environmental

legislation and obligations only.

2.1 Environmental Legislation of South Africa

2.1.1 Constitution (Act 108 of 1996)

Section 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996)

(CA) states that: “This Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic; law or conduct

inconsistent w ith it is invalid, and the obligations imposed by it must be fulf illed.” Section

24 of the CA, states that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to

their health or w ell-being and to have the environment protected, for the benefit of

present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that:

• prevent pollution and ecological degradation;

• promote conservation; and

• secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while

promoting justif iable economic and social development.

Section 24 guarantees the protection of the environment through reasonable legislative

(and other measures) and such legislation is continuously in the process of being

promulgated. Section 33(1) concerns administrative justice w hich includes the

constitutional right to administrative action that is law ful, reasonable and procedurally fair.

This Scoping Report w as accordingly prepared, submitted and considered w ithin the

constitutional framew ork set by inter alia section 24 and 33 of the Constitution.

2.1.2 The National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998) and the

Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2010

The overarching principle of the National Environmental Management Act 1998 (Act 107

of 1998) (NEMA) is sustainable development. It defines sustainability as meaning the

integration of social, economic and environmental factors into planning, implementation

and decision making so as to ensure the development serves present and future


AGES -11-

generations.

Section 2 of NEMA (Act no 107 of 1998) provides for National Environmental Management

Principles. These principles include:

• Environmental management must place people and their needs at the forefront of

its concern.

• Development must be socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.

• Environmental management must be integrated, acknow ledging that all elements

of the environment are linked and interrelated.

• Environmental justice must be pursued.

• Equitable access to environmental resources, benefits and services to meet

basic human needs and ensure human w ellbeing must be pursued.

• Responsibility for the environmental health and safety consequences of a policy,

programme, project, product, process, service or activity exists throughout its life

cycle.

• The participation of all Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) in environmental

governance must be promoted.

• Decisions must take into account the interests, needs and values of all I&APs.

• The social, economic and environmental impacts of activities, including

disadvantages and benefits, must be considered, assessed and evaluated, and

decisions must be appropriate in the light of such consideration and assessment.

• Decisions must be taken in an open and transparent manner, and access to

information must be provided in accordance w ith the law .

• The environment is held in public trust for the people, the beneficial use of

environmental resources must serve the public interest and the environment must

be protected as the people’s common heritage.

• The costs of remedying pollution, environmental degradation and consequent

adverse health effects and of preventing, controlling or minimising further

pollution, environmental damage or adverse health effects must be paid for by

those responsible for harming the environment.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process to be undertaken in respect of the

authorisation process of the proposed solar pow er generation facility is in compliance

w ith the NEMA read w ith the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations of 2010

(Government Notice No’s R543, 544, 545 and 546 of 2010). The proposed development


AGES -12-

involves ‘listed activities’, as identif ied in terms of the NEMA and in terms of section 24(1),

the potential consequences for or impacts on the environment of inter alia listed activities

must be considered, investigated, assessed and reported on to the competent authority

except in respect of those activities that may commence w ithout having to obtain an

environmental authorisation in terms of the NEMA.

An environmental authorisation application in terms of section 24 of the NEMA has been

submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for consideration. The

activities as listed in GNR 544, 545 and 546 of 2010 w ere identif ied as applicable to the

proposed operations.

The follow ing activities (Table 1) as listed in GNR 544, 545 and 546 of 2010 w ere

identif ied as applicable to the proposed development:

Table 1: Listed activ ities

Relevant

Legislation

Description

No. R.544 of 18 June

2010

10 The construction of facilities or infrastructure for the

transmission and distribution of electricity -

i. outside urban areas or industrial complex es w ith

a capacity of more than 33 but less than 275

kilov olts; or

ii. inside urban areas or industrial complex es w ith a

capacity of 275 kilov olts or more

A new power line is to be installed at a voltage higher

than 33 kilovolts but lower than 275 kilovolts, linking

the solar power generation facility to the Eskom Hydra

Substation.

No. R.544 of 18 June

2010

11 The construction of:

(i) canals;

(ii) channels;

(iii) bridges;

(iv ) dams;

(v ) weirs;

(v i) bulk storm water outlet structures;

(v ii) marinas;

(v iii) jetties ex ceeding 50 square metres in

size;

(ix ) slipway s ex ceeding 50 square metres in size;


AGES -13-

(x ) buildings ex ceeding 50 square metres in size; or

(x i) infrastructure or structures cov ering 50 square

metres or more

w here such construction occurs w ithin a watercourse or

w ithin 32 metres of a w atercourse, measured from the edge

of a w atercourse, ex cluding where such construction w ill

occur behind the dev elopment setback line.

The project may involve the construction of

infrastructure such as the solar panels and

transformers, within 32 metres of a watercourse.

No. R. 545 of 18 June

2010

1 The construction of facilities or infrastructure for the

generation of electricity w here the electricity output is 20

megawatts or more.

The project will involve the construction of solar

power generation facilities which will generate more

than 20 MW of electricity.


2010

15 Phy sical alteration of undev eloped, v acant or derelict land

for residential, retail commercial, recreational, industrial or

institutional use where the total area to be transformed is 20

hectares or more;

ex cept w here such phy sical alteration takes place for:

(i) linear dev elopment activ ities; or

agriculture or afforestation where activ ity 16 in this Schedule

w ill apply

The project will involve the development of a solar

power generation facility which will cover more than

20 hectares of land.


2010

14 The clearance of an area of 5 hectares or more of v egetation

where 75% or more of the v egetativ e cov er constitutes


AGES -14-

indigenous v egetation, ex cept w here such removal of

v egetation is required for:

(1) purposes of agriculture or afforestation inside areas

identified in spatial instruments adopted by the

competent authority for agriculture or afforestation

purposes;

(2) the undertaking of a process or activ ity included in

the list of w aste management activ ities published in

terms of section 19 of the National Env ironmental

Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008)

in w hich case the activ ity is regarded to be

ex cluded from this list;

(3) the undertaking of a linear activ ity falling below the

thresholds in Notice 544 of 2010.

The project will involve the development of a solar

power generation facility which will possibly involve

the clearing of vegetation of more than 5 hectares

which constitute more than 75 % of indigenous

vegetation.

2.1.3 National Water Act (Act No 36 of 1998)

In terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998) [NWA], the national

government, acting through the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs (previously

the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry), is the public trustee of South Africa’s water

resources, and must ensure that w ater is protected, used, development, conserved,

managed and controlled in a sustainable and equitable manner for the benefit of all

persons (section 3(1)).

In terms of the NWA a person may only use w ater w ithout a license under certain

circumstances. All other use, provided that such use qualify as a use listed in section 21

of the Act, require a w ater use license. A person may only use w ater w ithout a license if

such w ater use is permissible under Schedule 1 (generally domestic type use) if that

w ater use constitutes a continuation of an existing law ful w ater use (w ater uses being


AGES -15-

undertaken prior to the commencement of the NWA, generally in terms of the National

Water Act, 1998 (Act No.36 of 1998), or if that w ater use is permissible in terms of a

general authorisation issued under section 39 (general authorizations allow for the use

of certain section 21 uses provided that the criteria and thresholds described in the

general authorisation is met). Permissible w ater use furthermore includes w ater use

authorised by a license issued in terms of the NWA.

Section 21 of the NWA indicates that “w ater use” includes:

• taking w ater from a w ater resource (section 21(a));

• storing w ater (section 21(b));

• impeding or diverting the f low of w ater in a w ater course (section 21(c));

• engaging in a stream flow reduction activity contemplated in section 36 (section

21(d));

• engaging in a controlled activity w hich has either been declared as such or is

identif ied in section 37(1) (section 21(e));

• discharging w aste or w ater containing w aste into a w ater resource through a

pipe, canal, sew er, sea outfall or other conduit (section 21(f));

• disposing of w aste in a manner w hich may detrimentally impact on a w ater

resource (section 21(g);

• disposing in any manner of w ater w hich contains w aste from, or w hich has

heated in, any industrial or pow er generation process (section 21 (h));

• altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a w ater course (section

21(i));

• removing, discharging or disposing of w ater found underground if it is necessary

for the eff icient continuation of an activity or for the safety of people (section

21(j)); and

• using w ater for recreational purposes (section 21(k)).

2.2 National Level Energy Policies1

2.2.1 National Energy Act (Act No 34 of 2008)

The National Energy Act w as promulgated in 2008 (Act No 34 of 2008). One of the

objectives of the Act w as to promote diversity of supply of energy and its sources. In

1 Taken from the Social Impact Assessment Report for the Proposed De Aar Photovoltaic Power Project, Tony Barbour, 2012


AGES -16-

this regard, the preamble makes direct reference to renew able resources, including

solar:

“To ensure that diverse energy resources are available, in sustainable quantities, and at

affordable prices, to the South African economy, in support of economic grow th and

poverty alleviation, taking into account environmental management requirements (R); to

provide for (R) increased generation and consumption of renew able energiesR”

(Preamble).

2.2.2 White Paper on the Energy Policy of the Republic of South Africa (1998)

Investment in renew able energy initiatives, such as the proposed project, is supported by

the White Paper on Energy Policy for South Africa (December1998). In this regard the

document notes:

“Government policy is based on an understanding that renew ables are energy sources

in their ow n right, are not limited to small-scale and remote applications, and have

signif icant medium and long-term commercial potential”.

“Renew able resources generally operate from an unlimited resource base and, as such,

can increasingly contribute tow ards a long-term sustainable energy future”.

The support for renew able energy policy is guided by a rationale that South Africa has a

very attractive range of renew able resources, particularly solar and w ind and that

renew able applications are in fact the least cost energy service in many cases; more so

w hen social and environmental costs are taken into account.

Government policy on renew able energy is thus concerned w ith meeting the follow ing

challenges:

• Ensuring that economically feasible technologies and applications are

implemented;

• Ensuring that an equitable level of national resources is invested in renew able

technologies, given their potential and compared to investments in other energy

supply options; and,

• Addressing constraints on the development of the renew able industry.

The White Paper also acknow ledges that South Africa has neglected the development

and implementation of renew able energy applications, despite the fact that the country’s

renew able energy resource base is extensive and many appropriate applications exist.

The White Paper also notes that renew able energy applications have specif ic


AGES -17-

characteristics that need to be considered. Advantages include:

• Minimal environmental impacts in operation in comparison w ith traditional supply

technologies; and

• Generally low er running costs, and high labour intensities.

Disadvantages include:

• Higher capital costs in some cases;

• Low er energy densities; and

• Low er levels of availability, depending on specif ic conditions, especially with sun

and w ind based systems.

The IRP 2010 also allocates 43% of new energy generation facilities in South Africa to

renew ables.

2.2.3 White Paper on Renewable Energy

This White Paper on Renew able Energy (November, 2003) (further referred to as the

White Paper) supplements the White Paper on Energy Policy, w hich recognizes that the

medium and long-term potential of renew able energy is signif icant. This Paper sets out

Government’s vision, policy principles, strategic goals and objectives for promoting and

implementing renew able energy in South Africa.

The White Paper notes that w hile South Africa is w ell-endow ed w ith renew able energy

resources that have the potential to become sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, these

have thus far remained largely untapped. As signatory to the Kyoto Protocol2,

Government is determined to make good the country’s commitment to reducing

greenhouse gas emissions. To this purpose, Government has committed itself to the

development of a framew ork in w hich a national renew able energy framew ork can be

established and operate.

South Africa is also a signatory of the Copenhagen Accord, a document that delegates at

the 15th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change agreed to "take note of" at the f inal plenary on 18

December 2009. The accord endorses the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol and

confirms that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the w orld. In terms

2 The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),

aimed at fighting global warming. The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty with the goal of achieving

"stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous

anthropogenic interference with the climate system."[The Protocol was initially adopted on 11 December 1997 in

Kyoto, Japan and entered into force on 16 February 2005. As of November 2009, 187 states have signed and

ratified the protocol (Wikipedia)


AGES -18-

of the accord South Africa committed itself to a reduction target of 34% compared to

business as usual.

Apart from the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the promotion of renew able

energy sources is aimed at ensuring energy security through the diversif ication of supply

(in this regard, also refer to the objectives of the National Energy Act).

Government’s long-term goal is the establishment of a renew able energy industry

producing modern energy carriers that w ill offer in future years a sustainable, fully non-

subsidised alternative to fossil fuels. The medium-term (10-year) target set in the White

Paper is:

10 000 GWh (0.8 Mtoe) renewable energy contribution to final energy consumption by

2013, to be produced mainly from biomass, wind, solar and small-scale hydro. The

renewable energy is to be utilised for power generation and non-electric technologies

such as solar water heating and bio-fuels. This is approximately 4% (1667 MW) of the

projected electricity demand for 2013 (41539 MW) (Executive Summary, ix).

2.2.4 National Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Electricity (2010-2030)

The current iteration of the IRP for South Africa, initiated by the Department of Energy

(DoE) after a f irst round of public participation in June 2010, led to the Revised Balanced

Scenario (RBS) that w as published in October 2010. The document outlines the proposed

generation new build f leet for South Africa for the period 2010 to 2030. This scenario

w as derived based on the cost-optimal solution for new build options (considering the

direct costs of new build pow er plants), w hich w as then “balanced” in accordance with

qualitative measures such as local job creation. In addition to all existing and committed

pow er plants, the RBS included a nuclear f leet of 9,6 GW; 6,3 GW of coal; 11,4 GW of

renew ables; and 11,0 GW of other generation sources.

A second round of public participation w as conducted in November/December 2010,

w hich led to several changes to the IRP model assumptions. The main changes were the

disaggregation of renew able energy technologies to explicitly display solar photovoltaic

(PV), concentrated solar pow er (CSP) and w ind options; the inclusion of learning rates,

w hich mainly affected renew ables; and the adjustment of investment costs for nuclear

units, w hich until then represented the costs of a traditional technology reactor and were

too low for a new er technology reactor (a possible increase of 40%).

Additional cost-optimal scenarios w ere generated based on the changes. The outcomes

of these scenarios, in conjunction w ith the follow ing policy considerations, led to the

Policy-Adjusted IRP:


AGES -19-

• The installation of renew ables (solar PV, CSP and w ind) w ere brought forward in

order to accelerate a local industry;

• To account for the uncertainties associated w ith the costs of renew ables and

fuels, a nuclear f leet of 9,6 GW w as included in the IRP;

• The emission constraint of the RBS (275 million tons of carbon dioxide per year

after 2024) w as maintained; and

• Energy eff iciency demand-side management (EEDSM) measures w ere maintained

at the level of the RBS.

Table 2: National Energy Development Commitments before the next IRP

Source: Integrated Resource Plan for South Africa (2010)

Table 2 above indicates the new capacities of the Policy commitment. The dates shown

indicate the latest that the capacity is required in order to avoid security of supply

concerns. The document notes that projects could be concluded earlier than indicated.

The Policy-Adjusted IRP includes the same amount of coal and nuclear new builds as the

RBS, w hile reflecting recent developments w ith respect to prices for renew ables. In

addition to all existing and committed pow er plants (including 10 GW committed coal), the

plan includes 9,6 GW of nuclear; 6,3 GW of coal; 17,8 GW of renew ables; and 8,9 GW of

other generation sources. The Policy-Adjusted IRP has therefore resulted in an increase

in the contribution from renew ables from 11,4 GW to 17,8 GW.


AGES -20-

Conclusions

The key conclusions that are relevant to the renew able energy sector include:

• An accelerated roll-out of renew able energy options should be allow ed in order

to derive the benefits of localisation in these technologies; and

• A solar PV programme as envisaged in the Policy-Adjusted IRP should be

pursued (including decentralised generation).

2.3 Provincial Level Policy and Planning3

2.3.1 Northern Cape Province Provincial Growth and Development Strategy

The Northern Cape Provincial Grow th and Development Strategy (NCPGDS) notes that

reducing poverty represents the most signif icant challenge that the government and its

partners face in terms of future grow th and development. All other societal challenges

that the province faces emanate predominantly from the effects of poverty. The NCPGDS

notes that the only effective w ay to reduce poverty is through long-term sustainable

economic grow th and development.

Of specif ic relevance to this project, the NCPGDS makes reference to the need to ensure

the availability of inexpensive energy. The section notes that in order to promote

economic grow th in the Northern Cape the availability of electricity to key industrial users

at critical localities at rates that enhance the competitiveness of their industries must be

ensured. At the same time, the development of new sources of energy through the

promotion of the adoption of energy applications that display a synergy w ith the

province’s natural resource endow ments must be encouraged. In this regard the

NCPGDS notes “the development of energy sources such as solar energy, the natural

gas f ields, bio-fuels, etc., could be some of the means by w hich new economic

opportunity and activity is generated in the Northern Cape”. The NCPGDS also highlights

the importance of close co-operation betw een the public and private sectors in order for

the economic development potential of the Northern Cape to be realised.

The NCPGDS also highlights the importance of enterprise development and indicates that

the current level of private sector development and investment in the Northern Cape is

low . In addition, the province also lags in the key policy priority areas of Small, Medium

and Micro Enterprise (SMME) Development and Black Economic Empow erment. The

proposed project therefore has the potential to create opportunities to promote private

sector investment and the development of SMMEs in the Northern Cape Province.

3 Taken from the Social Impact Assessment Report for the Proposed De Aar Photovoltaic Power Project, Tony Barbour, 2012


AGES -21-

In this regard care w ill need to be taken to ensure that the proposed project and other

renew able energy facilities do not negatively impact on the region’s natural environment.

In this regard the NCPGDS notes that the sustainable utilisation of the natural resource

base on w hich agriculture depends is critical in the Northern Cape w ith its fragile eco-

systems and vulnerability to climatic variation. The document also indicates that due to the

provinces exceptional natural and cultural attributes, it has the potential to become the

preferred adventure and ecotourism destination in South Africa. Care therefore needs to

be taken to ensure that the development of large renew able energy projects, such as the

proposed project, do not affect the tourism potential of the province.

2.4 District Level Planning and Spatial Policy Context

2.4.1 Pixley ka Seme District Municipality Integrated Development Plan 2009-2012

According to the PkSDM strategy plan, a key development objective is to provide access

to electricity to all households in the District by 2014. To achieve this, the District

Municipality aims to

i) Fast track the delivery of free basic electricity; and

ii) Co-ordinate the maintenance and upgrading of the existing electricity

infrastructure. While no specif ic mention is made of the promotion of alternative

energy sources, the proposed project w ould potentially support a number of the

development goals and objectives of the PkSDM.

2.5 Municipal Level Planning and Spatial Policy Context

2.5.1 Emthanjeni Local Municipality Integrated Development Plan (2010)

The Emthanjeni Local Municipality (ELM) Integrated Development Plan (IDP), 2010,

identif ies a number of key performance areas (KPAs) in line w ith National guidelines. The

IDP KPAs that are relevant to the proposed project include:

• Basic Service Delivery: Energy is highlighted as one of the priority issues for

the ELM w ith respect to basic services; and,

• Local Economic Development (LED): Micro and macro-economic development

and land use management are highlighted as one of the priority issues for the

ELM w ith respect to LED.

The Municipality identif ied a number of industrial and manufacturing projects that form

part of their strategy for the economic development of the ELM. These include amongst

others:


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• The development of N10 Corridor;

• Upgrading of the airport;

• Revitalization of the rail infrastructure;

• Development of industrial sites (Hanover / Britstow n);

• Urban Renew al Programme (Renew al of Tow nships);

• A toilet paper Plant;

• A w ater purif ication Plant;

• An Iron Ore and Manganese Smelter Plant;

• Upgrading and maintenance of parks in Emthanjeni;

• A Logistics hub (De Aar); and

• A Renewable Energy hub (De Aar).

The proposed project is therefore in line w ith the Integrated Development Plan for the

area.

2.6 Permitting and License Requirements

The follow ing permitting and or license requirements are applicable to the proposed

project:

2.6.1 Water Use Licenses

As is set out herein above, various w ater uses associated w ith the project may require

w ater use licensing in terms of section 22 of the NWA. Section 21 of the NWA contains

those w ater uses that are to be registered and licensed in accordance w ith the legal

obligations contained in the NWA.

Insofar as the undertaking of Section 21 w ater uses are concerned, it is to be anticipated

that an application for a w ater use license may be required w ith the relevant w ater use

activity listed below . Alternatively the applicants may apply for municipal w ater. This will

be determined follow ing the decision as to w hether the applicants are chosen as a

preferred bidder by the Department of Energy.

Table 3: Water Use License Application

Use Description Aspect

21(a) Taking w ater from a w ater resource Abstraction of w ater from

borehole/s for use on the site

2.6.2 Heritage Permit – Section 36 of NHRA

A permit in terms of the NHRA w ill be required for the alteration or demolishment of any


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structures w hich are older than 60 years, how ever, it is not foreseen that this w ill be

required as sites of heritage importance w ill be avoided. This w ill be discussed further

during the EIA phase.


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3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

3.1 Location

The total project area covers an area of 958 Ha and is situated approximately 7 km

east of De Aar on the remaining extent of the farm Vetlaagte No. 4, next to Eskom’s

Hydra substation.

The study area is accessible from De Aar via a secondary road from the N10 (which

runs through De Aar to Hanover, w here it crosses the N1). There is a gravel road

running through the extreme southern part of the site in a north-easterly direction.

There is another road running directly from De Aar through the northern part of the

site. All parts of the site are therefore relatively accessible by means of existing

roads. A railw ay line traverses the southern part of the farm how ever, is not affected

by the proposed project layout.

3.2 Surrounding Land Cover uses

Existing surrounding land uses include grazing land. Infrastructure in the study area

consists of a netw ork of roads, pow erlines, substations, railw ay lines, and

communication tow ers on koppies. The Hydra Substation and the N10 road are located

to the south of the project area. Refer to Figure 5 for land cover uses in the area.

The area, how ever, is earmarked for solar generation facilities and a number of EIA’s

are in progress in the De Aar area (Figure 6).

Photos of the site are provided below (Figures 7 -16).


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Figure 5: Land Cover Types in the region (MetroGIS, 2012)


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Figure 6: Proposed Solar Facilities in the area (Google internet search, 2012)


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Figure 7: View of grassy plains next to the drainage line in the northern portion of

Vetlaagte, looking south

Figure 8: View of the general surroundings at Vetlaagte, looking east towards the

Vetlaagte farmstead in the distance


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Figure 9: View of Dolerite outcrops on the western periphery of Vetlaagte, looking

south towards the ESKOM Hydra Substation

Figure 10: View grassy plains on the north-western portion of Vetlaagte, looking east


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Figure 11: View of general surroundings west of the Vetlaagte farmstead, looking

east

Figure 12: Eroded drainage line east of the Vetlaagte farmstead, looking south


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Figure 13: View of the general surroundings south of the Vetlaagte farmstead, looking

east

Figure 14: Eroded drainage line to the south-east of Vetlaagte, looking north-east


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Figure 15: Drainage line on the south-western portion of Vetlaagte, looking east

Figure 16: Drainage line on the southern portion of Vetlaagte, looking east.


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3.3 Project Description

The proposed development w ill entail the construction of seven photovoltaic (PV)

and/or concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) and/or dish Stirling facilities.

The photovoltaic facilities can be either stationary (PV) or tracked PV (TPV) systems.

Six of the facilities w ill generate 75 MW each w hile the other facility w ill generate 30

MW. The development footprint, capacity and technology of each facility are as shown

in Table 4.

Table 4: Development footprint, capacity, technology and operating company of the

different facilities

Portion Ha MW Technology Operating Company

A 151 75 PV/TPV Ennex Solar (Pty) Ltd.

B 143 75 PV/TPV Nexergy Solar (Pty) Ltd.

C 142 75 PV/TPV Inqw aba Energy (Pty) Ltd.

D 148 75 PV/TPV and/or CPV and/or

Dish Stirling

Khaliphile Energy (Pty) Ltd.

E 135 75 PV/TPV and/or CPV and/or

Dish Stirling

Ukuqala Solar (Pty) Ltd.

F 199 75 PV/TPV Lehlasedi Energy (Pty) Ltd.

G 34 30 PV/TPV and/or CPV and/or

Dish Stirling

Ikusasa Energy (Pty) Ltd.

Each solar pow er generating facility w ill comprise of numerous photovoltaic (PV/TPV)

solar panels and/or concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) panels and/or dish Stirling solar

generators.

3.3.1 Solar Power Technologies

Solar pow er technologies can be loosely classif ied as Photovoltaic (PV) and

Concentrated Solar Pow er (CSP).

PV in turn can be classif ied as crystalline silicon cells, thin f ilm technology and


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concentrated PV (CPV). This project w ill make use of PV, CPV and TPV Systems.

The most w ell-know n thermal CSP technologies are trough, tow er and dish Stirling.

Concentrated solar pow er (CSP) is a system that uses lenses or mirrors and tracking

systems to concentrate a large area of sunlight, or solar thermal energy, onto a small

area. Electrical pow er is produced w hen the concentrated light is converted to heat

w hich drives a heat engine (usually a steam turbine) connected to an electrical power

generator. The advantage of CSP technology compared to silicon and thin f ilm PV is

higher conversion eff iciencies and therefore low er generation costs. Concentrating

technologies exist in four common forms, namely parabolic trough, concentrating linear

fresnel reflector, and solar pow er tow er and dish Stirling generators. This project will

use Dish Stirling Technology. The reason w hy Dish Stirling CSP Technology is selected

is that it does not consume w ater for cooling. It only requires a small quantity of water

for the cleaning of the concentrators.

Engine Technology

A Stirling engine is a heat engine operating by cyclic compression and expansion of

helium or other gas, the w orking f luid, at different temperature levels such that there is

a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical w ork. Like the steam engine, the Stirling

engine is traditionally classif ied as an external combustion engine, as all heat transfers

to and from the w orking f luid take place through the engine w all. This contrasts w ith

an internal combustion engine w here heat input is by combustion of a fuel w ithin the

body of the w orking f luid. Unlike a steam engine's (or more generally a Rankine cycle

engine's) usage of a w orking f luid in both its liquid and gaseous phases, the Stirling

engine encloses a f ixed quantity of permanently gaseous f luid such as air.

Typical of heat engines, the general cycle consists of compressing cool gas, heating

the gas, expanding the hot gas, and f inally cooling the gas before repeating the cycle.

Originally conceived in 1816 as an industrial prime mover to rival the steam engine, its

practical use w as largely confined to low -pow er domestic applications for over a

century.

The Stirling engine is noted for its high thermal eff iciency (up to 40% in practice), quiet

operation, and the ease w ith w hich it can use almost any heat source. This

compatibility w ith alternative and renew able energy sources has become increasingly

signif icant as the price of conventional fuels rises, and also in light of concerns such


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as peak oil and climate change. This engine is currently exciting interest as the core

component of dish Stirling concentrated solar pow er systems, providing the highest

conversion eff iciency of any thermal solar pow er generation system.

The typical dimensions of the PV panel arrays, the CPV trackers, the TPV trackers and

the Dish Stirling trackers are show n in Figure 17 to Figure 23.

Figure 17: Indication of the appearance and dimensions of the proposed solar PV

panels


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Figure 18: Graphic representation of the Concentrated Photovoltaic system

Figure 19: Dimensions of the Concentrated Photovoltaic system in meters


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Figure 20: Graphic representation of the Tracked PV (TPV) system

Figure 21: Dimensions of Tracked PV (TPV) system in meters


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Figure 22: Dimensions of Dish Stirling Generator

3.3.2 Associated Infrastructure

The follow ing associated infrastructure is envisaged for the solar facilities:

• A new pow er line w ith a capacity of 132 kV, linking the solar pow er

generation facilities to the existing Eskom Hydra Substation.

• A new short 132kV pow er line linking the pow er generation facilities on

Portions F and G to the proposed new 132 kV line.

• Seven sw itching stations (SS) w ith transformers w hich w ill connect to either

the existing 132 kV pow er lines or the proposed new 132 kV pow er line.

• Cabling betw een the PV/TPV panels and/or CPV panels and/or dish Stirling

units and sw itching stations.

• Foundations to support the PV/TPV panels and/or CPV panels and/or dish

Stirling units infrastructure.

• Internal access roads.

• Maintenance building and site off ices.

The solar collector areas and coverage of the different technologies are summarized

in Table 5.

Table 5: Development footprint, solar collector areas and percentage coverage of

the different technologies on the different pieces of land.

Portion Developmen

t footprint

(Ha)

Size

(MW)

Collector Area and Coverage

PV TPV CPV Dish stirling

Area

(ha)

%

cove

r

Are

a

(ha)

%

cove

r

Are

a

(ha)

%

cove

r

Are

a

(ha)

%

cove

r

A 150 75 53.6 35.8

% 53.6

35.8

% 34.1

22.8

% 37.5

25.0

%


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B 145 75 53.6 37.0

% 53.6

37.0

% 34.1

23.5

% 37.5

25.9

%

C 146 75 53.6 36.7

% 53.6

36.7

% 34.1

23.4

% 37.5

25.7

%

D 143 75 53.6 37.5

% 53.6

37.5

% 34.1

23.9

% 37.5

26.3

%

E 142 75 53.6 37.8

% 53.6

37.8

% 34.1

24.0

% 37.5

26.4

%

F 199 75 53.6 27.0

% 53.6

27.0

% 34.1

17.2

% 37.5

18.9

%

G 33 30 21.5 65.0

% 21.5

65.0

% 13.7

41.4

% 15.0

45.5

%

Figure 24 show s the locations of existing pow erlines crossing the site and Figure 23

indicates the dimensions of the new proposed distribution lines.


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Figure 23: Dimensions of new proposed distribution lines


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Figure 24: Position of the site relative to the Hydra Substation showing the existing Eskom power lines running across the farm, and

proposed powerlines associated with the project.


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3.3.3 Services

Water supply

Water w ill be obtained from new or existing borehole/s on the site. A w ater use

license w ill be obtained for the w ater use. Alternatively w ater w ill be obtained from

the municipality. In case w ater is obtained from borehole/s storage tanks w ill be used

to store the w ater.

Stormw ater Management

Stormw ater management structures w ill be required to manage the onsite runoff to

direct the f low of w ater.

Internal Roads

Access roads to the site already exist. Internal roads on the site may be required

during construction, but w ill be temporary roads. A number of permanent internal

roads w ill be required during the operational phase.

Security and Access

The site w ill be fenced w ith electric fencing and access w ill be controlled in order to

prevent trespassing and to prevent livestock from entering the site.

Sew age Treatment

A septic tank or French drain w ill be installed at the site off ices.

3.4 Proposed Activities during the Project Phases

The follow ing paragraphs describe the activities expected to take place during the

different phases of the project.

3.4.1 Construction Phase

The duration of the construction phase for a 30 to 75 MW plant is 18 months. For the

construction of the 75 MW plant, tw o to three 10 MW blocks can be constructed


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simultaneously, and w ill employ betw een 200 and 300 people. For the construction of

the 30 MW plant, one block of 10 MW can be constructed at a time, employing 100

people. The follow ing tables indicate the typical scheduling of the construction phase:

Table 6: Construction of a 75 MW plant

Month Number of 10 MW

blocks constructed

concurrently

Number of

construction

workers

1-6 2 200

7-12 3 300

13-18 3 300

Table 7: Construction of a 30 MW plan

Month Number of 10 MW

blocks constructed

concurrently

Number of

construction

workers

1-6 1 100

7-12 1 100

13-18 1 100

The scheduling is dependent on the size of the team w hich gets deployed. PV

construction is modular w hich means that various teams can w ork at various points in

parallel. Standard conditions prevailing, it w ould take about six months per 10 MW

block. Construction w orkers w ill be housed in De Aar.

The construction activities w ill involve the preparation of the groundw ork, followed by

the erection of the mounting structures and then follow ed by the attachment of the

solar panels and the integration of the electrical equipment. The typical activities

associated w ith the construction phase are as follow s:

1. Clearance of vegetation in the footprint areas of the infrastructure to be

constructed. This w ill include stripping of topsoil w hich w ill be stockpiled and

later backfilled or spread on site.

2. Site preparation using standard size bulldozers brought to site by Heavy

Goods Vehicle (HGVs). Site off ices imported by HGVs.


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3. On site road and holding area preparation using on site bulldozers.

4. Piling of support framew ork through ramming, screw ing or concrete

foundations using specially designed equipment w hich is not very large. The

equipment is brought to site by HGV.

5. Completion of framew ork (trays) brought in by HGV.

6. Standard trenching for electrical cabling, again using standard size excavators

(backhoe) brought to site w ith HGV.

7. Civils such as foundations for transformers and housing for sw itch-gear.

Civils w ill also include minor road w orks and preparation of holding areas.

Same equipment as already on site w ill be used.

8. Installation of panels brought in by HGV.

9. Connection of all DC panel strings to inverters brought in by normal 3ton/5ton

trucks.

10. Connection of AC low voltage cables from inverters to combiner boxes

brought in by normal trucks.

11. Installation of transformer, sw itchgear, sw itchgear housing all brought in by

HGV.

12. Connection betw een combiner boxes and low voltage side of transformer.

These cables are up 50mm in diameter and w ill be transported by special

cable-HGV.

13. Connection betw een transformer via sw itchgear to grid connection point also

using large diameter cables brought in by special cable-HVG.

14. After completion of cabling in trenches, sand backfilling is required. Sand

needs to be transported to site by standard trucks.

15. Restoration of site using existing equipment.

Betw een 55-70 HGV total trips per 10 MW block w ill be required.


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3.4.2 Operation Phase

The proposed solar pow er generation facilities w ill be subject to a 25 year lease

agreement, w ith the option to renew on the same conditions for a further 25 years.

Typical activities expected during the operation phase include reading meters, cleaning

panels, cutting grass w here applicable, and security. It is important to undertake

regular cleaning of the panels in order to ensure that maximum quantities of sunrays

can be captured by the panels. The panels w ill be w ashed w ith w ater w hich will be

sourced from an onsite borehole or alternatively municipal w ater w ill be used.

3.4.3 Decommissioning Phase

Once the lease agreement has terminated the ow ner/operator w ill be required to

remove the solar installation and restore the land follow ing the lease period.


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4 ALTERNATIVES

4.1 Process to assess alternatives

The IEM procedure requires that an environmental investigation needs to consider

feasible alternatives for any proposed development. Therefore, DEA requires that a

number of possible proposals or alternatives for accomplishing the same objectives

should be considered.

In the case of the proposed development, possible alternatives w ere identified through

discussions w ith authorities, review ing of existing environmental data, specialist

inputs/studies and the client.

Some of the alternatives that w ill be assessed include:

• Site Alternatives;

• Activity Alternatives;

• Technology Alternatives;

• Layout Alternatives;

• No-go Alternative.

4.1.1 Site Alternatives

Various sites w ere considered for the proposed project. Sites w ere identif ied that

had the follow ing criteria:

1. Availability of solar radiation;

2. Accessibility;

3. Accessibility to the Eskom grid;

4. Flat, level topography;

5. An unpopulated area;

6. Ability to sign agreements w ith the landow ner/s.


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The identif ied site w as chosen as suitable due to the above mentioned characteristics

as w ell as the landow ner w ho w as w illing to sign the lease agreement. Therefore no

feasible alternatives w ere assessed as part of the EIA.

4.1.2 Activity Alternatives

As is documented in the policies and legislation (Section 2) there is a requirement for

additional sources of renew able energy generation in the country. South Africa aims

to produce 3725 MW capacity of renew able energy by 2016. The seven applicants

are in the process of submitting a bid as part of the IPP Procurement Programme.

Further detail w ill be given in the EIA on the activity alternatives considered such as

coal pow ered generation facilities..

4.1.3 Technology Alternatives

The proposed development w ill entail the construction of photovoltaic (PV),

concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) and Dish Stirling facilities.

PV and CPV technology does not require w ater for cooling and the Dish Stirling

Facilities w ill also not require w ater for cooling as the w ater for cooling is contained

w ithin a closed loop system.

CSP technologies normally require w ater for cooling but w ater supply w as identified

as a constraint for the site due to the arid nature of the area. Therefore other CSP

technologies w ere not considered for the site.

4.1.4 Layout Alternatives

The layout of the proposed solar pow er generation facility has taken the follow ing

aspects into account:

7. Location of the facility aw ay from the drainage lines and outside of the

f loodline. A f loodline delineation has been undertaken.

8. Environmental sensitivities have been preliminarily identif ied for the site, which

include the drainage lines (ecological and heritage sensitivities) as w ell as

small rocky outcrops.


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9. The facilities w ill be constructed on areas of the site w hich are the most

suitable in terms of topography, and in relation to existing infrastructure such

as pow erlines, and the existing farm house on the site.

Refer to Figure 25 for the initial layout that w as proposed, and has subsequently

been amended to avoid sensitive sites.

Figure 25: Initial proposed layout and portions, subsequently amended

4.1.5 No-Go Alternative

One of the options to be considered as part of the EIR is that of the no development

option. This w ould entail leaving the site in its present state.


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5 DESCRIPTION OF THE RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT

This section briefly outlines the existing environment in the project area.

5.1 BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

5.1.1 Topography

According to the Environmental Potential Atlas of South Africa (ENPAT, 2000), the

proposed site is situated on an area w hich is classif ied as “Low lands w ith hills”.

The topography of the study site is relatively gentle. The elevation on site varies

from 1240 to 1336 m above sea level. There are a number of drainage lines and/or

w atercourses on the site, the main one of w hich constitutes a main tributary of the

Brakrivier (Hoare, 2012).

5.1.2 Climate

The climate can be considered to be semi-arid to arid w ith hot summers and cold

w inter temperatures. The w eather station w here this data w as obtained from is

the De Aar w eather station located at longitude 24.01° and latitude -30.65°.

5.1.2.1 Temperature

Temperatures vary betw een –8°C and +40°C (Figure 26).

Figure 26: Average daily maximum temperature (blue), average daily mean

temperature (red) and average daily minimum temperature (green) in °C from

month 1 (January) to month 12 (December)


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5.1.2.2 Rainfall

Rainfall during w inter months is erratic and usually no or very little rain falls

betw een June and September, w hile evapotranspiration is never less than 61mm

per month (Figure 27). The area has an average of 40 rainy days per year and a

ground frost frequency of 11%. The effective rainfall for the area is 265mm. This

implies that the area has a precipitation deficit of 1244mm per year and a moisture

index of -82% and can therefore be classif ied as an arid region for agricultural

purposes.

Figure 27: Annual rainfall (red) and Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) (green) in

mm/Month from month 1 (January) to month 12 (December)

5.1.2.3 Wind

Hourly and gusty w ind speeds recorded in the broader area are relatively high

(Clara, 1992). Wind analysis data recorded from the w eather station in De Aar

indicates that w ind direction is more frequently from the w est at speeds ranging

from 4 m/s – 7 m/s.

5.1.3 Geology

According to the spatial information of the ENPAT 2010 database, the study area is

predominately underlain by shale w hilst mudstone and tillite are also found in the

region. Shale, a clastic sedimentary rock, is formed by the settling and

accumulation of clay rich minerals and other sediments. Due to the settling process

this parent material usually takes the form of parallel rock layers w hich lithifies over

time. The southern tip of the site is underlain by mudstone, w hich is also a clastic

sedimentary rock formed from the lithif ication of deposited mud and clay. Mudstone


AGES -51-

consists of a very f ine grain size of less than 0.005 mm but unlike shale it is mostly

devoid of bedding.

5.1.4 Soils

A soil study w as undertaken on the site during April 2012 by Terra Africa Consult

in conjunction w ith SAS Environmental. Tw o different land types w ere identif ied

on the site. These land types are Ae137 and Ae138, below follow s a description of

each of the land types identif ied (Figure 28).

Land Type Ae137: The land type is found in landscapes w here the slope is

betw een 5 and 30% and slope lengths betw een and 150 and 1000m. The soil

forms have high base status and clay percentages in the A-horizon range

betw een 6 and 30%. Soil profiles in this land type are shallow to moderately deep

and structure ranges from apedal (structureless) to moderately structured. Rocky

outcrops occur throughout this land type.

Land Type Ae138: The study site is dominated by Land Type Ae138 w hich has

the same soil characteristics as Land Type Ae137 but the slopes in this land type

are quite f lat and range betw een 0% and a maximum of 12%. Clay content of soil

forms in this land type is similar to that of Land Type Ae137.

Seven different soil forms w ere identif ied on the study site (Table 8). These soil

forms can be classif ied into three different main groups. The site is dominated by

lithic soils (Mispah, Glenrosa and Rock forms) w hich are shallow soils underlain by

either a rocky layer or a lithocutanic layer and w here not much soil formation

(w eathering) has taken place. The second group identif ied is calcic soils w hich

consists of either a neocarbonate, red apedal or yellow -brow n apedal horizon

overlying a soft or hardpan carbonate horizon (Addo, Plooysburg and Askham

forms) as the w ell as the Coega form w here only the orthic A horizon is covering

the hardpan carbonate horizon. The third group is duplex soils (comprising a

permeable horizon overlying a slow ly permeable horizon) w hich consist of the

Sw artland soil form w here the orthic A horizon is underlain by the moderately

structured pedocutanic B1 horizon and saprolite underneath (Figure 29).


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Figure 28: Land Type Map


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Table 8: Summary of soil forms in the study area

Soil Form Area (ha) % of study area Soil group

Mispah 420 43.6 Lithic

Glenrosa 126 13.1 Lithic

Coega 28 2.9 Calcic

Askham 5 0.5 Calcic

Addo 61 6.3 Calcic

Plooysburg 23 2.4 Calcic

Sw artland 300 31.2 Duplex

TOTALS 963 100.0

Chemical soil properties

The pH (KCl) of the analyzed soil samples range betw een 6.4 and 7.9 and can be

considered as slightly acid to moderately alkaline. The slightly higher pH levels of

most of the samples are a function of the dry, shallow profiles that contain calcrete

nodules or w hich are underlain by a hardpan carbonate horizon. The soil sampled

on site falls in four different texture classes – sandy loam, silty loam, medium loam

and clay loam. All these samples have low to medium clay content (betw een 12

and 48%) and are dominated by clay or sand fraction.

Land capability

The soil identif ied in the study area could be classif ied into three land capability

classes (Figure 30). How ever, because definitions for Class VI and VII are so

similar and the soil forms identif ied consist of only slight differences in soil depth,

these tw o classes w ere combined to include all limitation. Soils of the Addo,

Askham, Plooysburg, Glenrosa and Sw artland forms can be classif ied into this

combined land capability class group. Limitations for this class identif ied on site are:

shallow rooting zone, stones, possible salinity and severe climate.

The areas w ith Mispah and Coega soil forms have Class VIII land capability due to

its very shallow nature and the rocky outcrops that are not covered w ith

vegetation.


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Figure 29: Soils map of the study area


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Figure 30: Land capability map


AGES -56-

Table 9: Land capability classes for the study area

Land Capability Class Area (ha) % of study area

Class VI and VII (Grazing w ith limitations) 515 53.5

Class VIII (Wilderness) 448 46.5

TOTALS 963 100.0

Land use and agricultural potential

Overall agricultural potential of the site is based on assessing a number of inter-

related factors including climate, topography, soil type, soil limitations and current

land use. The overriding climate is the major limiting factor for the site. The

combination of low rainfall and an extreme moisture deficit means that sustainable

arable agriculture cannot take place w ithout some form of irrigation.

The land cover of the study area consists of a mix of natural veld and unimproved

shrub-land and the vegetation type for the site according to Acock is defined as

False Karoo. The site is zoned as agricultural land and is currently used for

extensive grazing by sheep, cattle and game species such as Springbok and

Blouw ildebeest. Stocking rates are around 1 SSM (small stock unit) per 4 hectares

and 1 LSU (large stock unit) per 22 hectares (Smith, 2006).

Water is the major limiting factor to local agricultural enterprises and the sites

neither contain nor border a perennial river or freshw ater impoundment w hich

could be used as a source of irrigation w ater. The site does not currently

accommodate any centre pivots, irrigation schemes or active agricultural f ields.

There are no cultivated f ields or irrigated f ields w hich could be impacted upon by

the proposed developments.

By taking all the site characteristics (climate, geology, land use, slope and soils)

into account the agricultural potential of this site is classif ied as being extremely

low for crop production w hile moderate to moderately low for grazing. This poor

agricultural potential rating is primarily due to restrictive climatic characteristics and

soil depth limitations. The site is not classif ied as high potential nor is it a unique

dryland agricultural resource.


AGES -57-

Figure 31: Animal watering facilities on the farm

5.1.5 Water Resources

The greater study area is situated in the primary catchment of the Orange River

and in quaternary catchment D62D (Figure 32).

Figure 32: Quaternary Catchment Map

The site is traversed by a drainage line, f low ing from the south, originating on the

farm Hartebeeshoek 31, crossing the farm Wag 'n Bietjie 5 and then crossing the


AGES -58-

farm Vetlaagte 4 from south to north on the eastern side. This drainage line joins

the Brakrivier north w est of the project area. The f low is non-perennial, w ith a

w eakly developed, w ide shallow drainage canal. A smaller drainage line originates

on the eastern corner of Vetlaagte 4, f low ing mainly parallel to the main drainage

line in a northerly direction, w ith the confluence near to the boundary of the farm

(Wetcon 2012).

The site falls w ithin the Low er Orange Catchment Management Area. De Aar is

one of a number of tow ns in the area w hich rely on groundw ater resources for

their w ater supply (DWA, 2009). The tow n of De Aar (founded in 1904), w as so

named because of the many w ater-bearing arteries that occur underground, the

name De Aar meaning “the artery”.

De Aar is dependent on groundw ater from 55 boreholes w ith a total monthly yield

of 230 000 kl. In De Aar the boreholes are scattered throughout the tow n, with the

furthest lying 35 km from De Aar. Most of De Aar’s boreholes are located on private

farms and the w ater is purchased from the landow ners. No w ater purif ication is

done in the tow n. Water in De Aar has a high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) content

(hard) and the biggest problems are experienced w ith bathing, w ashing (w ater

does not foam easily) and electrical appliances such as kettles and geysers. The

high magnesium content of the w ater causes a bitter taste (IDP, 2010).

5.1.6 Fauna and Flora

A desktop Ecological Assessment has been undertaken for the site by David Hoare

Consulting. The study w ill be verif ied by a site visit during June 2012.

Broad vegetation types of the region

The study area falls w ithin the Nama-Karoo Biome (Rutherford & Westfall 1986,

Mucina & Rutherford 2006). The most recent and detailed description of the

vegetation of this region is part of a national map (Mucina, Rutherford & Pow rie,

2005; Mucina et al. 2006). This map show s one regional vegetation type occurring

w ithin the study site, namely Northern Upper Karoo. One other vegetation type,

Besemkaree Koppies Shrubland, occurs to the east of the site. The Northern Upper

Karoo and Besemkaree Koppies Shrubland vegetation types are described in more

detail below .

Northern Upper Karoo: This vegetation type occurs in the northern parts of the

Upper Karoo Plateau, w ith its southern extent ending near De Aar. It is a shrubland


AGES -59-

dominated by dw arf karoo shrubs, grasses and some low trees, including Acacia

mellifera subsp. detinens (Mucina et al. 2006). There are f ive know n endemics in

this vegetation (Mucina et al. 2006), namely the succulent shrubs, Lithops hookeri

and Stomatium pluridens, the low shrubs, Atriplex spongiosa and Galenia exigua

and the herb, Manulea deserticola. At a national scale this vegetation type has

been transformed only a small amount (approximately 4%) and none is conserved;

it is considered to be a Least Threatened vegetation type (Mucina et al. 2006).

Besemkaree Koppies Shrubland: This vegetation type is found on the slopes of

koppies, butts and tafelbergs w ithin the plains of the Eastern Upper Karoo (Mucina

et al. 2006a). It is a tw o-layered karroid shrubland. The low er (closed canopy)

layer is dominated by dw arf small-leaved shrubs and, especially in precipitation-

rich years, also by abundant grasses. The upper (loose canopy) layer is dominated

by tall shrubs. At a national scale this vegetation type is considered to be Least

Threatened (Mucina et al. 2006a).

Critical Biodiversity Areas have been identif ied for all municipal areas of the

Northern Cape Province and are published on the SANBI w ebsite (bgis.sanbi.org).

These maps identify no areas of concern in the current study area.

Red List and protected species of the study area

There is one protected tree species that may occur in the general area, Boscia

albitrunca (shepherd's tree). It has been evaluated as having a low probability of

occurring on site. There are no plant species of conservation concern that have a

high likelihood of occurring in available habitats in the study area.

The Giant Bullfrog is the only amphibian species w ith a distribution that includes the

study area and w hich could occur on site. How ever, previous surveys in the area

and communication w ith various landow ners and residents in the area indicate that

the species is not know n to occur in this area.

Preliminary sensitivity assessment

The preliminary sensitivity assessment identif ies those parts of the study area that

could possibly have high conservation value or that may be sensitive to

disturbance. Areas of potential sensitivity are show n in Figure 33.

The sensitivity classif ication is as follow s:

High: All of the w atercourses on site are classif ied as having high sensitivity. They


AGES -60-

are protected according to the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998). Ecologically,

they are areas that provide moderate value ecosystem goods and services. In

addition, one protected tree species is likely to occur primarily w ithin these areas.

Medium-High: Drainage areas that are not necessarily w atercourses have been

classif ied as having medium-high sensitivity. They are areas vulnerable to erosion

and the effects of w ater-f low and also act as buffers for w atercourses.

Medium: The majority of the study area is classif ied as having medium sensitivity.

These are areas of natural vegetation w hich are potential, although not critical,

habitat for three Vulnerable and tw o Near Threatened bird species (Blue Crane

(VU), Blue Korhaan (NT), Kori Bustard (VU), Ludw ig's Bustard (VU) and

Secretarybird (NT)).

5.1.7 Avifauna

An avifauna specialist study w as undertaken by Jon Smallie (WildSkies Ecological

Services). A site visit w as conducted in March 2012, to examine the sites and

available conditions f irsthand.

There is a reasonable diversity of bird species in the area, the Southern African

Bird Atlas Project 1 (Harrison et al, 1997) having recorded a total of 188 bird

species across the four quarter degree squares that are considered relevant.

Across the four squares, a total of 16 Red Listed species w ere recorded,

comprising: 7 Vulnerable and 9 Near-threatened. In addition to these species, the

White Stork, Abdim’s Stork and Hamerkop are considered as threatened as they

are protected internationally under the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species, and

a species of recent conservation concern respectively. This means that all of

these 188 species could potentially occur on the proposed site. Almost all of the

Red Listed species could potentially occur on the site. How ever the site itself is not

considered particularly important for any of them. This is due to the relatively small

size of the site (in this large, relatively uniform landscape), and it’s already fairly

impacted nature (pow er lines, proximity to tow nship). It is believed that the site will

be more important for the small terrestrial species, w hose entire territory or home

range may fall w ithin the site, as opposed to the larger species w hich range far

w ider. An example of such a species is the Eastern Long-billed Lark.

Sensitivity:

At the macro or landscape scale, this site w ould probably be classif ied by most as


AGES -61-

highly sensitive due to its position w ithin the Important Bird Area (IBA) programme

of BirdLife South Africa. How ever the site itself can be considered of general low

sensitivity in terms of avifauna, due to extremely uniform habitat, and having no

surface w ater sources evident on the site itself (although some small ephemeral

dams exist off site). The tw o more specialized karoo micro habitats, drainage lines

and rocky ridges, are not particularly w ell represented on site. The diversity of bird

species on site is therefore relatively low . The larger drainage lines on site are

probably of slightly higher sensitivity for birds, and have been identif ied as such in

Figure 33 below . Also a small rocky ridge exists in the far south-w est of the site,

and this has been identif ied as being of medium sensitivity. In each of these cases

the feature (drainage lines and ridge) has been buffered by 200m.


AGES -62-

Figure 33: Ecological Sensitiv ity Map


AGES -63-

5.1.8 Socio Economic Environment

The follow ing information w as taken from the Baseline Social Impact Assessment

(Tony Barbour, 2012).

The proposed project is located in the Northern Cape Province, w hich is the largest

province in South Africa and covers an area of 361,830 km2, and constitutes

approximately 30% of South Africa. The province is divided into f ive district

municipalities (DM), namely, Frances Baard, Siyanda, Namakw a, Pixley ka Seme,

and John Taolo Gaetsew e DM. The study area is located w ithin the Emthanjeni

Local Municipality (ELM). The ELM is one of the eight municipalities that constitute

the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality.

The ELM is approximately 11 390 km² in size (~11% of the greater PkSDM). The

largest tow ns w ithin the ELM are De Aar, Britstow n and Hanover. The

administrative centre of the Municipality is De Aar, w hich lies approximately 300 km

south east of the provincial capital of Kimberley. The urban areas are typical of the

spatial patterns of tow ns throughout South Africa, namely they are segregated by

economic classes and reside in clusters. De Aar is a major railw ay junction that

links Gauteng, Cape Tow n, Port Elizabeth, the Port at Coega, and Namibia.

Population

Despite having the largest surface area, the Northern Cape has the smallest

population of 822 727 (Census 2001) or 1.8% of the population of South Africa.

The population has declined by 2.1% from 1996 (840 321) to 2001 (822 727),

resulting in a decrease in the population density, of an already sparsely populated

province, from 2.32 to 2.27 persons per km2. The population can be classified as a

young population w ith 57.7% of the population being younger than 30 years old.

The female proportion makes up approximately 51.2% of the total w ith males

making up the remaining 48.8%. The 2001 Census data indicates a signif icant shift

in the 20 – 24 cohort occurs, w hich can possibly be attributed to, amongst others,

people in this age group moving to other provinces in search of better career and

job opportunities and tertiary education.

Education

In terms of education levels 15.1% of the population had no education at all, while

71.3% have primary or secondary education. Those w ith a higher educational

qualif ication accounted for 3.7% of the population (Figure 34). These f igures


AGES -64-

indicate an increase in all categories since 1996, except for the no schooling

category, w hich decreased by 4.9% indicating a higher percentage of people

attending school.

The information contained in Figure 34, indicates that, in general, there has been

an improvement in the educational qualif ications of the labour force in the Northern

Cape. There has also been an increase in the proportion of the labour force that

has a secondary and tertiary education. This w ould appear to be the result of an

increase in access to education since 1994, in particular, amongst new entrants to

the labour force.

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

1996 20.0% 62.7% 3.2% 14.1%

2001 15.1% 71.3% 3.7% 9.9%

No s choolingPrimary and

SecondaryTe rtiary Not applicable

(Source: Northern Cape Province PGDS)

Figure 34: Percentage of people by level of education for 1996 and 2001


AGES -65-

Economic development

The Human Development Index4 (HDI) for the province, w hich covers four indexed

factors – life expectancy, adult literacy, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita

(adjusted for real income) and education attainment, for the Northern Cape as a

w hole is 0.58, w hich is substantially below the South African f igure of 0.72.

For the Northern Cape, the areas of low est Human Development Index include the

South Eastern region (Noupoort and Richmond) and the hinterland of Kimberley

(Griekw astad, Campbell and Douglas) – for these areas the HDI varies betw een

0.47 to 0.51. Over the past 8 years there has been little to no variance in the HDI

f igures, indicating no increase or decrease in the overall standard of living. In

contrast, the Kimberley and Springbok areas have the highest HDI of 0.63 to 0.62

respectively, primarily due to the broader economic opportunities and access to

services such as infrastructure, schools, and health facilities. Similarly, there has

been no signif icant change over the past 8 years.

The above trend is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, mainly due to the

marginal economic base of the poorer areas, and the consolidation of the economic

base in the relatively better off areas. In terms of per capita income, the Northern

Cape Province has the third highest per capita income of all nine Province’s. Income

distribution is, how ever, extremely skew ed, w ith a high percentage of the

population living in extreme poverty. The measure used in the Provincial Grow th

and Development Strategy (PGDS) document to measure poverty is the percentage

of people living below the poverty line or breadline is used5. The poverty line

indicates a lack of economic resources to meet basic food needs. Figure 35

indicates the percentage of household income below the poverty breadline of R800

in the Northern Cape Province, the highest being PkSDM at 48% and the low est

being Namaqua at 36%.

4 The closer the HDI to 1.0, the higher the level of “living condition”. For example, Sweden has an index

of 0.91 defined as high, South Africa at 0.72 is defined as middle and Lesotho at 0.47 is defined as low.

5 In terms of the poverty line, a person is considered poor if his or her consumption or income level falls

below some minimum level necessary to meet basic needs. The minimum level is usually called the poverty

line. In South Africa the poverty income level is set at R800/month.


AGES -66-

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

% Below breadline 38% 36% 48% 46% 46%

Kgalagadi Namaqua Pixley Ka Seme Siyanda Frances Baard

Source: Northern Cape PGDS

Figure 35: Percentage of household income below the poverty breadline by

district

Economic sectors

In terms of economic importance, the Northern Cape’s share of the country’s GDP

in 2002 w as 2%, the low est contribution of the nine provinces. How ever, although

the Northern Cape Province has the smallest economy of the nine provinces, Gross

Domestic Product of the Region (GDPR) per capita is higher than the national

average. In terms of economic activities, the economy of Northern Cape is heavily

dependent on the primary sectors of the economy, w hich in 2002 made up 31.0%

of GDPR. The largest sector is mining w hich has declined in contribution to the

GDPR from 25.8% in 1996 to 23.7% in 2002. Agriculture, on the other hand,

increased in its contribution from 6.2% to 7.3%.

A w orrying characteristic of the economy is the limited amount of processing of the

primary commodity output in mining and agriculture that takes place in the Northern

Cape. This is reflected in the fact that manufacturing contributes only 4.2%

tow ards GDPR. All the industries in the secondary sector have decreased in their

contribution to the GDPR, w ith electricity and w ater sector show ing the greatest

decrease of 0.7% and the construction industry making the low est contribution of

1.9% to the GDPR of the Northern Cape. At the same time the contribution to

regional GDPR by industries in the tertiary sector increased, w ith the exception of

the w holesale and retail industry, w hich decreased by 1.1%.


AGES -67-

Employment

Of the economically active population in the Northern Cape, 55.5% w ere employed

w hile 26.1% could not f ind employment. This unemployment f igure is low er than

the national f igure of 29.5%. Signif icant for this province, how ever, is that a third

of the total population is younger than 15 years old and approximately 45% of the

potential labour force is younger than 30 years. At the same time, unemployment is

the highest among the youth w ith unemployment rates of 54% and 47% in the 15 -

19 and 20 – 24 year-old age groups. There has been an increase in the

economically active population from 35.9% in 1996 to 38.1% in 2001. The

unemployment rate for the same period has increased from 28.3% to 33.4%. In

terms of employment there has been a decrease in the number of people that are

formally employed from 196 219 in 1996 to 193 980 in 2001. The largest decrease

w as in the private household sector, show ing a loss of 4 859 jobs. The most

important sectors in terms of employment in 2002 w ere agriculture, hunting,

forestry and f ishing (28.4%), community, social and personal services (19.8%),

w holesale and retail trade (12.7%) and private households (11.4%) (Table 10).

Table 10: Formal employment by sector

Sectors 1996

1996 % of persons

employed per

sector

2001

2001 % of persons

employed per

sector

Primary

A griculture, hunting;

fores try and fishing 48646 24.8 55016 28.4

M ining and quarrying 18556 9 .5 15493 8 .0

Secondary

Manufac turing 8812 4 .5 10598 5 .5

E lec tric ity; gas and water

supply 2397 1 .2 1385 0 .7

C ons truc tion 10402 5 .3 8971 4 .6

Tertiary

Wholesale and retail trade 23099 11.8 24671 12.7

T ransport; s torage and

communication 9963 5 .1 6366 3 .3

Financ ial, insurance, real

es tate and bus iness 7733 3 .9 10989 5 .7


AGES -68-

services

C ommunity, soc ial and

personal services 39724 20.2 38463 19.8

P rivate Households 26887 13.7 22028 11.4

Total 196219 193980

Source: Northern Cape PGDS

Municipal-Level Socio-Economic Context

Emthanjeni Local Municipality

Information provided below is mainly derived from the latest ELM IDP document

(2009-2013), the 2007 Community Survey and the 2001 Census.

Dominant economic sectors (GDP)

Economically, the ELM contributed approximately 25% of the greater district's local

economy in the year 2000. According to the ELM IDP, the largest sectors within the

municipality are the follow ing:

• Community Services (36%);

• Transport (24%);

• Finance (13%);

• Trade (11%);

• Agriculture (7%);

• Electricity (4%);

• Manufacturing (3%); and

• Construction (2%).

De Aar is at the centre of the economy of the Municipality. Its railw ay junction links

Gauteng w ith Cape Tow n, Port Elizabeth, the Port at Coega, and Namibia. De Aar

also has the largest abattoir in the Southern Hemisphere and the surrounding

sheep farms are also major suppliers of w ool for both the local and international

market.

Population and population groups

The PkSDM’s total population w as estimated at 166 849 people, w ith the ELM

accounting for ~23% (38 228) of that f igure (Community Survey, 2007). The

average population grow th betw een 2001 and 2010 w as estimated at 0.60% (ELM

IDP, 2010). In 2001, approximately 92% of the population in the ELM lived in the

three major urban centres of De Aar, Britstow n and Hanover. Given the size of the


AGES -69-

Municipality and the relatively small total population size, the population density

w ithin the Municipality generally is low at 3.4 people per km2. How ever, the

population density in the three urban nodes of De Aar, Brits tow n and Hanover can

be expected to be signif icantly higher than that of the surrounding rural areas.

According to the ELM IDP (2010), the municipal population is largely Coloured

(57.5%), follow ed by Black African (35.3%), White (7.1%) and Asian (<1%).

Age Profile

The age profile of the population reveals that approximately 65.2% of the population

falls w ithin the economically active age bracket of betw een 15-64 years of age.

Approximately 30% of the population is 15 years old or less w hile the remaining 5%

of the population are 64 years old or older. According to the Municipal IDP, 31% of

the population falls w ithin the school going age group of 7 to 19 years.

Education

Broadly, the level of education w ithin the ELM is low . In 2001 just under 20% of the

population (1/5) had no schooling, w hile approximately 1/10 of those w ho

completed some form of Secondary education (~36%) progress to obtain education

at University/Technikon level (~3.5%). Betw een 2001 and 2007, the education

levels improved marginally w ith the number of people w ho had no form of

education decreasing to 15% and those w ho completed some form of tertiary

education increasing to just over 5%.

Employment

Unemployment w ithin the ELM is estimated at 23.1% of the total labour force, which

is below the Northern Cape average of ~27% w hile 43.5% of the population is not

economically active6. The latter are made up of made up of scholars/students,

homemakers/housew ives, pensioners, the medically unfit, seasonal w orkers not

currently employed, and those w ho choose not to w ork. The ELM IDP and

supporting documents do not provide any detail regarding the relative size of the

each of the economic sector’s contribution to employment in the ELM.

5.1.9 Heritage Resources

An Archeological Impact Assessment w as undertaken by Neels Kruger, from

6 The term “not economically active“ refers to people of working age not actively participating in the

economy, such as early retirees, students, the disabled and home-makers.


AGES -70-

AGES in March 2012.

A number of academic archaeological and historical studies, as w ell as Heritage

Impact Assessments have been conducted in the De Aar area. These studies all

infer a rich and diverse archaeological landscape. Similarly, a number of areas of

high archaeological and heritage potential w ere located during the AIA survey

w hich focused on a total surface area of approximately 1500ha.

Stone Age:

The abundance of locally available raw material implies a prominent Stone Age

presence and specif ically Middle Stone Age (MSA) artefacts consisting of cores,

blades and scrapers occur w idely in the area. Three rich MSA scatters occur

along the eastern periphery of the study area along a minor drainage line w hich

extends from the south to the north to become a tributary of the Brak River, north

of the property. Vetlaagte’s MSA representations are of particular interest due to

the high density of the scatters and a specialist analysis of lithics from the site will

provide an understanding of the development and spread of the MSA in the

Northern Cape and Karoo areas.

Another low density scatter of MSA lithics w ith single blades and scrapers w as

identif ied along the north w estern border of the property and the study area.

Historical/ Colonial Period & Graves:

Historical period remnants, in the form of the old Vetlaagte homestead and a

dilapidated dam w all constructed in the drainage line east of the farmstead, occur

in the general landscape. The farmstead, consisting of a restored farm house,

outbuildings, midden and labourers quarters is situated in an area w hich w ill be

excluded from the Solar Energy Facility development. A small family graveyard,

associated w ith the farmstead at Vetlaagte, also occurs in the exclusion zone. The

cemetery contains a single grave of a former farm ow ner w ho passed aw ay in

1933. Even though the Vetlaagte farmstead and graveyard occurs in an area

excluded from the proposed development, these sites are of heritage conservation

priority and it is recommended that a 100m conservation buffer zone be maintained

around these features during all phases of development and operation of the Solar

Energy Facility. As the dam w all situated in the drainage line east of the farmstead

has been largely destroyed, the site is of low signif icance and it is recommended

that site monitoring be done if any construction takes place in the vicinity of this

site.


AGES -71-

It is essential that cognisance be taken of the larger archaeological landscape of

the area in order to avoid the destruction of previously undetected heritage sites in

the area. Here, care should be taken around dolomite koppies in the larger

landscape, as rock art is know n to occur on these outcrops. Water sources such

as drainage lines and pans should also be regarded as potentially sensitive in

terms of possible Stone Age deposits. The possible existence of Historical Period

resources deriving from the Ango-Boer War or the area’s Colonial farming history

should also be considered.


AGES -72-

Figure 36: Location of archaeological and heritage sites as discussed in the

Archaeological Impact Assessment Report.


AGES -73-

5.1.10 Palaeontology

A Palaeontological Assessment w as undertaken by John Almond from Natura Viva

cc during March 2012.

The fossil record and inferred palaeontological sensitivity of fossil heritage w ithin

each of the main rock units represented in the study area near De Aar is

summarized in Table 1 below (See also Almond & Pether 2008). The Ecca and

Beaufort Group sediments here generally have a moderate to high palaeontological

sensitivity. How ever, the potentially fossiliferous sediments of the Karoo

Supergroup that underlie the study area are almost entirely mantled in a thick layer

of superficial deposits of probable Pleistocene to Recent age. They include various

soils, gravels and – at least in some areas - a w ell-developed calcrete hardpan.

The upper Ecca Group bedrocks in the De Aar area contain locally abundant fossil

w ood (of palaeontological interest for dating and palaeoenvironmental studies) as

w ell as low diversity trace fossil assemblages typical of the Waterford Formation,

rather than the Tierberg Formation as mapped.

No vertebrate fossils w ere observed w ithin the Low er Beaufort Group rocks that

are very poorly exposed in the southern portion of the study area. How ever,

various trace fossils, silicif ied w oods and rare vertebrate remains (therapsids,

parareptiles) of the Middle Permian Pristerognathus Assemblage Zone have

recently been recorded elsew here from these successions in the De Aar area

(Almond 2010b). Jurassic dolerite sill and dyke rocks here are entirely

unfossiliferous (igneous intrusions), as are rare kimberlite pipes of Cretaceous

age.

The diverse superficial deposits in the study region are of low palaeontological

sensitivity as a w hole. Calcretized rhizoliths (root casts) and possible invertebrate

burrow s of probable Quaternary age w ere observed during recent f ield studies in

the De Aar region (Almond 2010a). Good examples of silicif ied Ecca fossil woods

are recorded from gravels directly overlying Ecca bedrock as w ell as rew orked

into surface gravels in the present study area. Fossil w ood material probably

occurs w idely in similar settings throughout the Ecca Group outcrop area, albeit

often buried beneath superficial deposits.


AGES -74-

5.1.11 Visual Environment

A Visual Scoping and Desktop study w as undertaken by Metro GIS (May, 2012).

Visual resources originate from the natural environment as it is shaped by

topographical features and vegetation cover. The region is characterised by f lat

plains w ith prominent koppies and ridges. Combined w ith w ide plains of grassland,

and interspersed w ith thicket, bushland and bush clumps, a unique landscape with

coherent visual character is formed, providing aesthetically pleasing view s in

places. At night, especially moonless nights, the skies reveal rarely seen clear

view s of the stars, w ith particularly the milky w ay etched against a pitch black

night sky.

The existence of the tow n 7 km from the development site, as w ell as

infrastructure such as transmission lines and railw ay lines, have collectively

established visual impacts in the region, w hich may provide some visual absorption

capacity to mitigate the visual impact of the proposed solar development.

Viewer Incidence & Viewer Perception

The view er incidence analysis is based on the identif ication of places of residence,

commercial activity, leisure activity, sports, roads and tourists areas w here a

concentration of people normally occur. For the purpose of this study, three

categories w ere identif ied as having differing observer incidences and/or

perceptions.

• The f irst category of high view er incidence and potential negative

perception includes the built-up areas of De Aar. The tow n is 7 km w est

from the proposed development area. Observers residing in these areas

are accustomed to the w ide natural expanses and vistas afforded by this

rural region. Tourists visiting De Aar are mostly associated w ith particular

activities, i.e. Paragliding & Hang-Gliding, Star-Gazing, and Hunting, all of

w hich are taking place in the countryside around De Aar. The town hosts a

variety of guest houses. Visual exposure to the solar facility w ill be limited

to the eastern parts of the tow n and other parts w hich are not visually

obstructed.

• Residents on and visitors to farmsteads around the proposed facility, make

up the second category. This includes a number of guest houses / lodges

close to De Aar. This area is characterised by large tracts of sparsely

populated land w ith low observer incidence.


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• The third category comprises corridors along the main roads in the area.

This includes the N10 national road, the R48 and R348 arterial and

secondary roads. The N10 carries large volumes of traff ic. The other roads

are expected to carry a low frequency of traff ic and observers. Together,

these roads represent the area w ith the highest potential sightings of the

solar facility. Visual exposure and related visual impact w ill vary from high

to low , depending on the distance betw een the observer and the solar

facility, and the nature of the landscape surrounding the observer at a

specif ic location.


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Figure 37: Viewer locations: De Aar, farmsteads & roads, and proximity to the site


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5.1.12 Noise

Existing noise sources include natural sounds and distant sounds of vehicles from

the surrounding roads.

5.1.13 Sensitive Environments

In terms of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) guidelines

for Integrated Environmental Management (IEM), sensitive landscapes are a broad

term applying to:

• Nature conservation or ecologically sensitive areas – indigenous plant

communities (particularly rare communities or forests), w etlands, rivers,

river banks, lakes, islands, lagoon, estuaries, reefs, intertidal zones,

beaches and habitats of rare animal species.

• Unstable physical environments, such as unstable soil and geotechnically

unstable areas;

• Important nature reserves – river systems, groundw ater systems, high

potential agricultural land

• Sites of special scientif ic interest;

• Sites of social signif icance or interest – including sites of archaeological,

historic, cultural spiritual or religious importance and burial sites;

• Green belts or public open space in municipal areas

A preliminary sensitivity map is included below (Figure 38 and Figure 39). This will

be f inalized during the EIA Phase. Preliminary sensitivities include:

• Drainage lines w hich are sensitive in terms of ecological processes, bird

habitats and heritage sites.

• Rocky outcrops w hich are sensitive in terms of heritage sites and bird

habitats.


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Figure 38: Draft Sensitiv ity Map


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Figure 39: Draft Sensitiv ity Map (Aerial)


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6 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS

The principles of NEMA govern consultation w ith interested and affected parties

(I&APs). These principles include the provision of suff icient and transparent

information to I&APs on an ongoing basis, to allow them to comment.

6.1 Identification of Interested and Affected Parties

A title deed search w as conducted using the Windeed programme to identify

affected parties neighboring the proposed development. Key stakeholders, who

included the follow ing sectors, w ere directly informed of the proposed

development by means of registered post, faxes and/or email (proof of notification

included in Appendix A):

• The ow ners and occupiers of land adjacent to the site w here the activity is

or is to be undertaken or to any alternative site;

• The ow ners and occupiers of land w ithin 100 metres of the boundary of

the site or alternative site w ho are or may be directly affected by the

activity;

• Governmental Departments DEA, DENC, and DAFF

• Department of Water Affairs

• Department of Energy

• South African Heritage Resource Agency

• Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural

Development

• Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works

• Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism

• Municipality Manager from the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality

• Municipality Manager from the Emthanjeni Local Municipality

• SANRAL

• ESKOM


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• WESSA – Northern Cape

• Birdlife SA.

6.2 Notification

The follow ing process w as undertaken to facilitate the public participation for the

proposed project

• An advertisement, notifying the public of the Application and process and

requesting I&AP’s to register their comments w ith AGES, w as placed in the

Volksblad on the 24th of May 2012 (Appendix A).

• In order to inform surrounding communities and adjacent landow ners of the

proposed development, three notice boards (as specif ied in GNR 543 of 18

June 2010) w ere erected on site and at visible locations on the 24th of May

2012 (Appendix A).

• A notif ication letter w ith a Registration and Comment Sheet w as distributed

to all Interested and Affected Parties betw een 21 and 24 May 2012

(Appendix A).

6.3 Raising of Issues for investigation by EIA Specialists

I&AP’s have had the f irst opportunity to raise issues either in w riting, by telephone

or email. All the issues raised by I&AP’s during the scoping process have been

captured in the Comments and Response Report (Appendix A) and I&AP’s received

letters acknow ledging their contributions.

6.4 Draft Scoping Report

The EIA Regulations specify that I&AP’s must have an opportunity to verify that

their issues have been captured. A period of 30 days w ill be made available for

public comment on the Draft Scoping Report. The availability of the Draft Scoping

Report w ill be announced via personal notif ication letters to all the registered I&AP’s

on the distribution list.

The Draft Scoping Report w ill be put out for public review from 2 July 2012 to 31

July 2012.

The Draft Scoping Report w ill be distributed for comment as follow s:


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• Published on the AGES w ebsite at w w w .ages-docs.co.za

• Hard copies or CD’s w ill be provided on request.

After the end of the 30 day public review period the report w ill be updated w ith

additional issues raised by I&AP’s and new information generated as a result.

6.5 Public Participation during the Impact Assessment Phase

Public participation during the Impact Assessment Phase of the EIA w ill revolve

around a review of the f indings of the EIA and inputs into the Environmental

Management Plan (EMP). The f indings w ill be presented in a Draft Environmental

Impact Assessment Report and EMP.


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7 ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS

The questions, issues and responses show n in Appendix A have been analysed

using know ledge of the affected environment, available information and

professional judgement, in order to identify key issues that require further

assessment in the next phase of the environmental impact assessment – specialist

studies and environmental impact assessment phase.

The reader should note that the classification of an issue as a key issue during

the scoping phase does not necessarily imply that a significant impact will result.

The significance of an impact can only be ascertained once a specialist study

has been conducted.

Impact signif icance w ill be assessed during the specialist studies and impact

assessment phase using the criteria listed below .

7.1 Identification of Key Issues

The key issues listed in the follow ing section have been determined through the

follow ing avenues:

• View s of interested and affected parties;

• Legislation; and

• Professional understanding of the project team, and environmental

assessment practitioners.

Preliminary signif icant issues for the proposed development and associated

infrastructure are summarized below :

Key Impact Specialist input during the EIA phase

Visual Impact

• Impacts during construction

• Impact on neighbours

• Impact on tourism

• Impacts of lighting

Visual Impact Assessment

Biodiv ersity Impact and impacts on birds

• Impacts on indigenous natural v egetation

• Impacts on threatened animals, primarily

Ecological Assessment

Av if auna Assessment


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birds

• Impacts on watercourses

• Establishment and spread of declared

weeds and alien inv ader plants

Soils, land use and land capability

• Soil erosion, compaction, soil pollution

and loss of land capability

Soils, Land use and Land Capability Impact

Assessment

Heritage Impact and impact on paleontology Heritage Impact Assessment and

Paleontological Impact Assessment

Socio-economic

• Potential impacts associated with the

presence of construction workers during

the construction phase

• Potential impacts associated with the

inf lux of job seekers into the area during

the construction phase

• Potential impact on rural sense of place

• Potential impact on property prices,

specif ically adjacent properties

• Impact on tourism

• Accommodation of workers

• Indirect loss of income

• Impact on game and stock f arming

• Saf ety and security

• Potential damage to f arm inf rastructure

Creation of jobs and business

opportunities

• Creation of potential training and skills

dev elopment opportunities

• Prov ision of a clean, renewable energy

source f or the national grid.

Social Impact Assessment

Impacts on surf ace water resources Delineation of f loodlines

Impacts on Air Quality

• Generation of dust due to construction

activ ities such as clearance of

v egetation

Impacts to be assessed during the EIA

Phase


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• Generation of dust due to mov ement of

v ehicles on access roads

Noise impacts

• Generation of noise during construction

due to the presence of people on site,

as well as the mov ement of v ehicles to

and f rom the site.


Phase

Traf f ic

• Traf f ic impacts during construction and

the mov ement of HGV’s to and f rom the

site


Phase

Further details associated w ith the construction and operation of the various

activities as listed in the Project Description w ill be discussed in detail in the EIA

Report. The EIA report w ill assess the impacts of each of the activities as w ell as

ascertain the cumulative impacts of the development and the necessary mitigation

measures w ill be included in an Environmental Management Programme (EMP).

7.2 Specialist Studies

As a result of the above-mentioned anticipated impacts, the specialist studies as

listed below w ill be undertaken during the EIA phase of the process. The specialist

studies assist w ith the development of an understanding of the system processes

and the potential positive and negative impacts of the proposed development on

both the social and biophysical environments:

• Ecological Assessment (David Hoare Consulting)

• Avifauna Impact Assessment (Wildskies Ecological Services)

• Phase 1 Archaeological assessment (AGES)

• Paleontological Assessment (Natura Viva)

• Floodline Delineation (Wetcon)

• Soils and Land Use Potential Evaluation (Terra Africa Consult in conjunction

w ith SAS Environmental)

• Social Impact Assessment (Tony Barbour Environmental Consulting and


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Research)

• Visual Impact Assessment (MetroGIS)

7.3 The Assessment of the Cumulative Impacts

Cumulative impacts can arise from one or more activities. A cumulative impact may

result from an additive impact i.e. w here it adds to the impact w hich is caused by

other similar impacts or an interactive impact i.e. w here a cumulative impact is

caused by different impacts that combine to form a new kind of impact. Interactive

impacts may either be countervailing (net adverse cumulative impact is less than

the sum of the individual impacts) or synergistic (net adverse cumulative impact is

greater than the sum of the individual impacts).

Possible cumulative impacts of the project w ill be evaluated in the EIA report.

The assessment of cumulative impacts on a study area is complex; especially if

many of the impacts occur on a much w ider scale than the site being assessed

and evaluated. It is often diff icult to determine at w hich point the accumulation of

many small impacts reaches the point of an undesired or unintended cumulative

impact that should be avoided or mitigated. There are often factors w hich are

uncertain w hen potential cumulative impacts are identif ied.

The anticipated impacts resulting from the construction and implementation of these

developments could potentially result in cumulative effects w hen taking the

follow ing into consideration:

• Social impact;

• Visual Impact;

• Biodiversity impact.

7.4 Assessment Methodology

An impact can be defined as any change in the physical-chemical, biological,

cultural and/or socio-economic environmental system that can be attributed to

human activities related to alternatives under study for meeting a project need.

Assessment of impacts w ill be based on DEAT’s (1998) Guideline Document: EIA

Regulations. The signif icance of the aspects/impacts of the process w ill be rated

by using a matrix derived from Plomp (2004) and adapted to some extent to f it this


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process. These matrixes use the consequence and the likelihood of the different

aspects and associated impacts to determine the signif icance of the impacts.

The signif icance of the impacts w ill be determined through a synthesis of the

criteria below :

Probability: This describes the likelihood of the impact actually occurring.

Improbable: The possibility of the impact occurring is v ery low, due to the circumstances, design or

experience.

Probable: There is a probability that the impact will occur to the extent that prov ision must be

made theref ore.

Highly

Probable

It is most likely that the impact will occur at some stage of the dev elopment.

Def inite: The impact will take place regardless of any prev ention plans, and there can only be

relied on mitigatory actions or contingency plans to contain the ef f ect.

Duration: The lif etime of the impact

Short term: The impact will either disappear with mitigation or will be mitigated through natural

processes in a time span shorter than any of the phases.

Medium term:

The impact will last up to the end of the phases, where af ter it will be negated.

Long term: The impact will last f or the entire operational phase of the project but will be mitigated

by direct human action or by natural processes thereaf ter.

Permanent:

Impact that will be non-transitory . Mitigation either by man or natural processes will not

occur in such a way or in such a time span that the impact can be considered transient.

Scale: The phy sical and spatial size of the impact

Local: The impacted area extends only as f ar as the activ ity , e.g. f ootprint

Site: The impact could af f ect the whole, or a measurable portion of the abov e mentioned

properties.

Regional: The impact could af f ect the area including the neighbouring residential areas.

Magnitude/ Severity: Does the impact destroy the env ironment, or alter its f unction.

Low: The impact alters the af f ected env ironment in such a way that natural processes are

not af f ected.

Medium:

The af f ected env ironment is altered, but f unctions and processes continue in a

modif ied way .

High: Function or process of the af f ected env ironment is disturbed to the extent where it

temporarily or permanently ceases.

Significance: This is an indication of the importance of the impact in terms of both phy sical extent

and time scale, and theref ore indicates the lev el of mitigation required.


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Negligible: The impact is non-existent or unsubstantial and is of no or little importance to any

stakeholder and can be ignored.

Low: The impact is limited in extent, has low to medium intensity ; whatev er its probability of

occurrence is, the impact will not hav e a material ef f ect on the decision and is likely to

require management interv ention with increased costs.

Moderate:

The impact is of importance to one or more stakeholders, and its intensity will be

medium or high; theref ore, the impact may materially af f ect the decision, and

management interv ention will be required.

High: The impact could render dev elopment options controv ersial or the project unacceptable

if it cannot be reduced to acceptable lev els; and/or the cost of management

interv ention will be a signif icant f actor in mitigation.

The follow ing w eights w ill be assigned to each attribute:

Aspect Description Weight

Probability Improbable 1

Probable 2

Highly Probable 4

Def inite 5

Duration Short term 1

Medium term 3

Long term 4

Permanent 5

Scale Local 1

Site 2

Regional 3

Magnitude/Severity Low 2

Medium 6

High 8

Significance Sum (Duration, Scale, Magnitude) x Probability

Negligible <20

Low <40

Moderate <60

High >60

The signif icance of each activity w ill be rated w ithout mitigation measures and with

mitigation measures for both construction, operational and closure phases of the


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plant.

7.5 Impact Assessment

Impacts on the identif ied key issues w ill be assessed according to the follow ing

structure:

• Source of the impact: w ill be identif ied (e.g. initial vegetation clearance on site,

establishment of construction camp, passage of vehicles on dirt roads, etc).

• A Description of the impact w ill describe the interaction betw een the activity

and the environment, i.e. how and w hy the impact occurs and how the activity

changes the environment.

• Significance: an explanation of the signif icance rating of the impact w ith and

w ithout mitigation, w ith reference to the impact assessment criteria w ill be

provided. Impacts w ill be rated as highly signif icant, or of low signif icance.

Fatal f law s w ill additionally be identif ied. There are no mitigation measures

w hich can be implemented to manage a fatal f law .

• Mitigation: The mitigation measures that can be implemented to eliminate or

minimise negative impacts or result in the optimization of positive benefits must,

w herever possible, w ill be expressed as practical actions.

7.6 Plan of Study (PoS) for EIA

As per the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) as

amended and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations of 2010 a PoS for

EIA is required. It is attached as Appendix C Plan of Study for EIA.

8 CONCLUSION AND RECOMENDATIONS

This Scoping Process has follow ed the correct and appropriate standards and

procedure for this EIA application, as set out in the NEMA (amended), and the EIA

Regulations of 2010. The Scoping Study includes an analysis of various

alternatives and indicates those alternatives, w hich should be pursued as part of

the detailed assessment during the EIA process.

The Terms of Reference for specialist studies w ere formulated taking into

consideration comments received during the public participation process to date.

These terms of reference ensure that potential environmental impacts are


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adequately investigated during the detailed assessment phase of the EIA process

and that any relevant shortcomings and/or gaps are addressed. The proposed

specialist studies are:

• Ecological Assessment;

• Avifauna Impact Assessment;

• Phase 1 Archaeological assessment;

• Paleontological Assessment;

• Floodline Delineation;

• Soils and Land Use Potential Evaluation;

• Social Impact Assessment; and

• Visual Impact Assessment.

The impact signif icance w ill be assessed during the specialist studies and impact

assessment phase using the criteria listed in section 7.3.

Public participation during the Impact Assessment Phase of the EIA w ill revolve

around a review of the f indings of the EIA and inputs into the Environmental

Management Plan (EMP). The f indings w ill be presented in a Draft Environmental

Impact Assessment Report and EMP.

AGES Pty Ltd recommends that the project proceed into the EIA phase of the

environmental process. The EIA report w ill address the key issues identif ied in the

scoping report, at a level required to provide the public and the decision making

authorities w ith suff icient information to deliver a f inal decision.

The anticipated w ay forw ard on the next phase of the EIA process is explained

below in Section 8.1

8.1 Way Forward

1. Plan of Study for EIA. Submitted w ith the Scoping Report. This report includes

the detailed terms of reference for the various specialist studies.

2. Appointment of Specialists. The specialists w ill be appointed to undertake


AGES -91-

the specialist studies identif ied in the Scoping Report.

3. Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The results of the specialist

studies w ill be synthesized by the project team to provide a draft EIR.

4. Draft EIR published. The draft EIR w ill be made available to registered

interested and affected parties for comment for a period of 30 days. The f indings

w ill be summarised and included in the full EIR and w ill again be made available for

review ing.

5. Comments Report. Comments on the Draft EIR w ill be synthesized by the

project team into a Comments and Response Report (IRR), w hich w ill be appended

to the f inal Report.

6. Revise draft EIR. The draft report w ill be updated by addressing and

responding to the issues raised in the IRR. Responses from the proponent to key

issues w ill also be included.

7. Final EIR. The revised f inal report w ill be published w ith the various specialist

reports appended. This w ill be submitted to Department of Environmental Affairs for

a f inal decision w ith respect to the proposed development.


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9 REFERENCES

DEAT (1989) Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1998, Gauteng Department of

Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs.

DEAT (1998) Guideline Document on the EIA Regulations implementation of

sections 21, 22 and 26 of the Environment Act, Government Printer, Pretoria.

DEAT (2002) Impact Significance, Integrated Environmental Management,

Information Series 5, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT),

Pretoria.

DEAT (2004) Cumulative Effect Assessment, Integrated Environmental Management,

Information Series 7, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT),

Pretoria.

DEAT (2004) Environmental Impact Reporting, Integrated Environmental

Management, Information Series 15, Department of Environmental Affairs and

Tourism (DEAT), Pretoria.

DEAT (2004) Environmental Management Plans, Integrated Environmental



DEAT (2004) Review in Environmental Impact Assessment, Integrated Environmental



PLOMP, H. (2004) A process for assessing and evaluating environmental

management risk and significance in a gold mining company. Conference Papers-

Annual National Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment:

South African Affi l iate.

http://www.sessa.org.za/news/item/csp-in-south-africa

http://solargis.info/doc/71

http://www.eskom.co.za/c/73/ipp-processes/

http://deloitteblog.co.za.www102.cpt1.host-h.net/2012/02/28/renewable-energy-and-the-need-to-


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fund-change/


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10 APPENDIX A COMMENTS AND RESPONSE REPORT


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11 APPENDIX B1 CORRESPONDENCE FROM DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS


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12 APPENDIX C PLAN OF STUDY FOR EIA


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13 APPENDIX D TITLE DEEDS

Documents

2012-07-02 De Aar Scoping Report FINAL DRAFT