Environmental Impact Management Services (Pty) Ltd

Registration Number: 92/05927/07

Directors: T. Nkhahle, A. Smith, L. Whitlow

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HEADOFFICE: Block 5 Fernridge Office Park, 5 Hunter Avenue, Ferndale, Randburg

REGIONAL OFFICE: 1st Floor, 44 Pearce Street, Berea, East London

PO Box 2083, Pinegowrie, 2123, South Africa. PO Box 19731, Tecoma, 5214, South Africa Tel: (011) 789-7170. Fax: (011) 787-3059 Tel: (043) 721 1485. Fax: (086) 571 9047

E-mail: mail@eims.co.za Website: www.eims.co.za

31 July, 2013 EIMS ref: 0972

Dear Interested and Affected Party:

LETTER TO INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTIES REGARDING AN APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF A

PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SOLAR FACILITY IN AGGENEYS, NORTHERN CAPE

Environmental Impact Management Services (Pty) Ltd (EIMS) has been appointed by Alternative Energy

Solutions (Pty) Ltd (the Applicant) to apply for Environmental Authorisation (EA) from the National

Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for the proposed construction of a Photovoltaic (PV) Solar

facility occupying an area of 250ha and the construction of a transmission line to connect the PV facility

with the bulk electricity network. The proposed facility is located in the Aggeneys area, approximately

40km west of Pofadder, Northern Cape Province. The geographical coordinates of the proposed site is

presented in Decimal Degrees: 29° 3'16.90"S, 18°38'31.10"E. The proposed study area for the facility and

associated power line is approximately 400 hectares in extent (please refer to the map in the Background

Information Document).

The applicant has applied for the following activities:

The construction of a PV facility, with a capacity of approximately 75 megawatts;

The construction of a transmission line of approximately 6 kilometres in length to connect the PV

facility with the bulk supply network; and

The transformation of 250 hectares of undeveloped land for the PV facility footprint.

This application is being made in terms of Regulation 54 of Government Notice No. R. 544 under the EIA

regulations (2010) and Government Notice No. R. 546 promulgated under Section 24 (5), 24M and 44 of

the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998)(NEMA). It is anticipated that the

proposed project will require EA for the following activities: GN R.545 (Listing Notice 2, Activity #s1, 8 and

15. A full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be followed.

A public notification and involvement process is being carried out as part of the process. An

advertisement was placed in a local newspaper (Gemsbok newspaper on the 31st of July 2013). Site

notices will be placed at central locations and notification documents of the proposed activity will be sent

out to all key Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) (National and local Authorities, landowners, etc).

I&APs are invited to register and comment on the application. Comments must be done in writing or

telephonically and directed at EIMS. Comments will be taken up into a Comment and Responses Report

that will be submitted to the National Department of Environmental Affairs at the end of the process.

Any objections, comments and responses to the application must be submitted to EIMS using the

following contact details:

• Contact person: Bongani Khupe

• E-mail: bongani@eims.co.za

• Fax: (011) 787 3059

• Tel: (011) 789 7170

• Postal address: P.O. Box 2083, Pinegowrie, 2123

• Reference No: 0972

Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned if you have any queries or concerns.

Sincerely,

Bongani Khupe

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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED

CONSTRUCTION OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR FACILITY

AES PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR INSTALLATION,

NORTHERN CAPE

Background Information Document (BID)

PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT

This Background Information Document (BID) serves to

inform all Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) that

Alternative Energy Solutions (Pty) Ltd is applying for En-

vironmental Authorisation (EA) from the National Depart-

ment of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for the proposed

construction of a Photovoltaic (PV) solar facility, with

a capacity of approximately 75 megawatts and the

construction of a transmission line of approximately

6 Kilometres in length to connect the PV facility with

the bulk supply network in the Northern Province

(please refer to Figure 1).

This document aims to provide the reader with basic in-

formation regarding the proposed project. This informa-

tion includes:

• An overview of the proposed project including loca-tion and nature.

• An overview of the regulatory framework and context within which this involvement process is being un-dertaken.

• The need for the project.

• An overview of the potential environmental impacts that may potentially occur.

• An explanation of the Public Participation Process (PPP) to be followed.

• An explanation of how to get involved as an Inter-

ested and Affected Party (I&AP).

• Register I&APs and provide input:

Contents 1. Introduction 2. Details of Application

Area 3. Legal Process

Description 4. Need for the Project 5. Description of the

Activity 6. Potential Environmental

Impacts 7. The Public Participation

Process 8. Responsibilities of

Interested And Affected Parties (I&AP)

9. How to become involved in this Project

Location of proposed project:

The proposed facility is located in the

Aggeneys area approximately 40km

west of Pofadder, Northern Province.

The geographical coordinates of

the proposed site is presented in

Decimal Degrees: 29° 3'16.90"S,

18°38'31.10"E.

Date of issue 31/07/2013Date of issue 31/07/2013Date of issue 31/07/2013Date of issue 31/07/2013

30 day comment period30 day comment period30 day comment period30 day comment period

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1. Introduction

The proposed project involves the following:

1 The construction of a Photovoltaic (PV) solar facility,

with a capacity of approximately 75 megawatts;

2 The construction of a transmission line of approximately

6 Kilometres in length to connect the PV facility with the

bulk supply network; and

3 The transformation of 250 hectares of undeveloped land

for the PV facility footprint.

The proposed project will require EA for the following activi-

ties: GN R.545 (Listing Notice 2, Activity #s1, 8 and 15) (refer

to section 5 of this BID).

2. Details of the Application Area

The proposed facility is located in the Aggeneys area approxi-

mately 40km west of Pofadder, Northern Province (please

refer to Figure 1). The geographical coordinates of the

proposed site is presented in Decimal Degrees: 29°

3'16.90"S, 18°38'31.10"E. The proposed study area for

the facility and associated power line is approximately

400 hectares in extent.

3. Legal Process Description

In accordance with the requirements of the National Environ-

mental Management Act, 1998 (NEMA), the competent deci-

sion making authority for this project is the National Depart-

ment of Environmental Affairs (DEA). Department of Environ-

mental Affairs and Nature Conservation (Springbok branch,

Northern Cape) will be a commenting authority. The Environ-

mental Impact Assessment Regulations (Government Notice R.

543, 544, 545 & 546) promulgated under NEMA, lists specific

activities which require authorisation from the Competent Au-

thority and provides details on the process requirements. The

proposed activity is listed in GN R544 and GN R545 as an ac-

tivity that may not commence without environmental authoriza-

tion from the competent environmental authority.

In order for the proposed activity to be considered for environ-

mental authorization, the Applicant (Alternative Energy Solu-

tions Pty Ltd) has appointed Environmental Impact Manage-

ment Services Pty (Ltd) as an Environmental Assessment

Practitioner (EAP), for the EIA process. The EIA process is an

effective planning and decision-making tool, to describe and

assess the physical, social and economic impacts which a

given development may have. To be able to inform the decision

-making process, it is important for public issues and concerns

to be identified timeously, to enable the EIA team to evaluate

them. The EAP also identifies potential negative and positive

impacts that could arise as a result of the proposed project and

identify applicable mitigation measures required, to avoid or

reduce negative impacts and to enhance positive impacts.

Steps undertaken during the EIA The EIA process being followed consists of the following key

steps (see Figure 2):

Figure 1: Locality Map

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1. Initial notification and call to register as I&APs

through the following means: advertisements, post-

ers, site notices, letters to landowners and pre-

identified I&APs. The aim is to inform people of the

proposed activity and to encourage initial comment

and feedback.

2. Scoping phase: This includes collation of initial com-

ments, concerns, objectives onto a concise report,

which provides feedback on the following: nature of

activity, description of the receiving environment,

identification of potential feasible alternatives, identi-

fication of potential positive and negative impacts

and identification of knowledge gaps.

3. EIA phase: The primary aim of this phase is to in-

vestigate and comparatively assess the identified

alternatives and to make a recommendation of the

most suitable alternative. In addition the identified

impacts are assessed and relevant management

and mitigation measures are listed for inclusion in

an Environmental Management Plan.

4. Ongoing public consultation: Throughout the proc-

ess the public and specifically the I&APs registered

during the initial notification phase will be through

dissemination of information by means of public

meetings and focus groups, draft reports (Scoping

and EIA), and project updates. The I&APs are en-

couraged to participate as far as possible.

Once the relevant process have been completed and the

resultant documentation submitted to the competent au-

thority (namely the National Department of Environmental

Affairs - DEA), the DEA reviews the application and makes

a decision. Once a decision as to whether to grant or re-

fuse this application is made, the I&APs will be informed of

the decision and their right to appeal in the event that they

disagree with the decision.

Figure 2: EIA Process

4. Need for the Project The proposed project will generate approximately 75 megawatts

and will be connected to the Eskom Grid. The development site

has been selected by Alternative Energy Solutions (Pty) Ltd (the

applicant) to improve power generation distribution in the region

due its proximity to existing Eskom infrastructure.

5. Description of the Activity Alternative Energy Solutions (Pty) Ltd proposes to develop a

photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation facility with a combined

capacity of approximately 75 megawatts. The EAP (EIMS) will

advise the applicant on the most preferred site (within the 400ha

study area) as informed by specialist assessment in the form of a

site selection due diligence assessment, and subsequently a full

EIA will be conducted.

The proposed project may trigger the following activities: Listing Notice 2 - GN R545

• Activity 1 - The construction of facilities or infrastructure

for the generation of electricity where the electricity out-

put is 20 megawatts or more;

• Activity 8 - The construction of facilities for the transmis-

sion and distribution of electricity with a capacity of 275

kilovolts or more, outside an urban or industrial complex;

and

• Activity 15 - Physical alteration of undeveloped, vacant

or derelict land for residential, retail, commercial, recrea-

tional, industrial or institutional use where the total area

to be transformed is 20 hectares or more.

The proposed project is anticipated to include the following activities during construction:

• Setting up accommodation, ablution and other facilities,

workshops, other temporary structures, fencing;

• Clearing and grubbing of construction area;

• Top soil removal and stockpiling;

• Construction of the PV panels;

• Construction of the Transmission power line

• Erection of fencing; and

• Landscaping and finishing.

6. Potential Environmental Impacts One of the key drivers to a successful Environmental authorisa-

tion is to ensure that potential impacts (both positive and nega-

tive) are identified and investigated. Management and mitigation

measures will be recommended in the Environmental Impact

Report (EIR) to attempt to alleviate, reduce or compensate for

identified impacts.

There are a number of potential impacts upon the social and bio-

physical environments. The aim of the environmental assess-

ment process is to ensure that relevant aspects of the bio-

physical and socio-economic environments are considered prior

to making decisions regarding the project. In addition the process

aims to identify relevant constraints, management and mitigation

List Notice 2 (GN R): S&EIR

Submit Application

Acknowledge Receipt of Application

Public Participation Process

(PPP) (Phase 1)

Prepare EIR

Request

Comments on

the draft SR

form I&APs &

State

Department

within 40 days

14 Days

Accept Application

if in order

Reject Application

if not order

Draft Scoping Report (SR)

including Plan of Study for EIA

Request:

• Additional

Information;

• Consideration

of Guidelines

Submit SR & Plan of Study for

EIA 30 Days

Amend SR/Plan:

•Specialist Studies;

• Feasible & Reasonable

Alternatives

Accept SR & Plan of

Study for EIA

Reject the SR/Plan of

Study

Conduct PPP for EIR

(Phase 3)Submit EIR to CA

60 Days Ext

Consider

comments on

EIR and EMPR

by I&APs and

State

Department

within 40 days

Amend EIR

Request Amendments

to EIR

Refer EIR Specialist

ReviewAccept the EIRReject the EIR

60 Days

CA to Notify Applicant of Decision

Grant EA in

Full/Part

Refuse EA in

Full/Part

60 Days

Ext

45 Days

Applicant to Notify I&APs of Decision

2 Days

Appeal20 Days12 Days

60 Days Ext

Conduct PPP for SR

(Phase 2)

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measures. The proposed activity will have different impacts during its construction and operation phase. The list below summa-

rises some of these potential impacts.

Construction

Potential Habitat destruction

Potential Soil erosion

Water use during construction

Noise & dust during construction

Potential water pollution

Operation Visual impact to the surrounding residents

Water use

Consideration of alternatives Another key driver towards a successful EIA is the thorough identification and investigation of feasible alternatives. Alternatives

will be considered and discussed in terms of their practicality and feasibility. It is important to note that the definition of alternatives

includes all aspects of the proposed activity including: activity alternatives; process alternatives; scheduling alternatives; demand

alternatives; design alternatives; and the No-go alternative.

7. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS

Issues and alternatives raised by you (I&APs) will help focus the EIA process and enhance the quality of the decision taken by the authorities. Public participation occurs throughout the EIA process (outlined above) and includes the following steps:

• Advertising - through newspaper, posters, site notices and BIDs;

• Registering - of I&AP’s on the database;

• Consultation - informing and inviting comments from I&AP’s through BID’s and notices;

• Comments on Drafts – I&AP’s will be afforded a comment period to comment on the draft reports;

• Issues report-summary of all issues raised by I&APs and key stakeholders.

8. Responsibilities of Interested and Affected Parties (I&AP) As an I&AP you need to ensure that you are registered as an I&AP for the project and that you forward your comments within the stipulated timeframes to EIMS at the detail provided in this document.

9. How to become involved.

You can become involved by:

In order to ensure your registration as an I&AP and continued involvement in this process, please submit your information to:

Environmental Impact Management Services (Pty) Ltd Contact person: Bongani Khupe

Postal Address: P. O . Box 2083, Pinegowrie, 2123 Telephone: 011 789 7170

Fax: 011 787 3059 Email: bongani@eims.co.za

Please quote reference number 0972 when commenting on this project.

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