Vaal River Solar PV Facilities, Substations and 132kV power line

VAAL RIVER SOLAR PV FACILITIES, SUBSTATION AND 132kV POWER, NEAR ORKNEY NORTH WEST PROVINCE

Projects and Applications:

Project Title	DFFE Reference Number	Applicant	Affected properties
1.      Vaal River Solar 2 PV Facility	12/12/20/2513/1	Vaal River Solar 2 (Pty) Ltd	Farm Vaalkop, Portion 3 of Farm Vaalkop and Portion 200 of the Farm Noitgedacht
2.      Vaal River Solar 1 PV Facility	12/12/20/2513/2	Vaal River Solar 1 (Pty) Ltd	Portion 3 of Farm Vaalkop
3.      Vaal River Solar 3 PV Facility	12/12/20/2513/3	Vaal River Solar 3 (Pty) Ltd	Portion 200 of the Farm Noitgedacht
4.      Substation and 132kV power line for Vaal River Solar PV Facility projects	12/12/20/2513/4	Kabi Solar (Pty) Ltd	Portion 3 of Farm Vaalkop and Portion 4 of Farm Modderfontein

Amendments: Vaal River Solar PV Facilities, Substations and 132kV power line for the Vaal River Solar projects have received separate Environmental Authorisations (EA) on the 10 October 2012. The Vaal River Solar project Applicants are requesting the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to amend the existing Environmental Authorisations as follows:

• An increase of total generation capacity of the facility (associated with the three Vaal River Solar PV Facilities)
• An update to the project description of the EA to include the construction and operation of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) (associated with the three Vaal River Solar PV Facilities)
• Extension of the validity of the Environmental Authorisation (associated with all four projects)

Project Location: The Vaal River Solar projects are located approximately 8 km northeast of Orkney within the City of Matlosana Local Municipality in the North West Province.

 Amendment Process: In terms of Conditions 5 of the EA dated 10 October 2012 and Regulation 29 of the EIA Regulations 2014, as amended, it is possible for an applicant to apply, in writing, to the competent authority for a change or deviation from the project description to be approved.  An application in this regard has been submitted to the DFFE who have confirmed that the applications fall within the ambit of a Part 1 amendment process.  A public participation process is required to be undertaken in support of these applications in accordance with the requirements of the DFFE.

 Motivation Report available for public review and comment:  Savannah Environmental has compiled a Motivation Report in support of the Amendment Applications (Part 1 amendment).  The Motivation Reports and supporting documentation will be available for public review and comment from Tuesday, 05 July 2022 to Wednesday, 03 August 2022. 

To obtain further information, please submit your name, contact information and interest in the project, in writing, to Savannah Environmental:

Nondumiso Bulunga of Savannah Environmental

Post: PO Box 148, Sunninghill, 2157 Johannesburg

Tel: 011 656 3237

Fax: 086 684 0547

Mobile: 060 978 8396

Email: publicprocess@savannahsa.com

Documents for public review are available for download.

Please click on the “Register Interest” button to obtain the Registration Code to access the project’s documents under the “View Download Page.”