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Basic Assessment for the for the Proposed Development of the Vryburg Solar PV 2 and associated electrical infrastructure, Vryburg, North West Province. BASIC ASSESSMENT PROCESS for the Proposed Development of the Vryburg Solar 2 and associated electrical infrastructure, Vryburg, North West Province DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT August 2018 Prepared for: ABO Wind Renewable Energies (Pty) Ltd Prepared by: CSIR PO Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa Tel: +27 21 888 2400 Fax: +27 21 888 2693 Lead Authors: Paul Lochner, Surina Laurie, Rohaida Abed and Babalwa Mqokeli Mapping: Babalwa Mqokeli (CSIR) © CSIR 2018. All rights to the intellectual property and/or contents of this document remain vested in the CSIR. This document is issued for the sole purpose for which it is supplied. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express written permission of the CSIR. It may also not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover than that in which it is published. Basic Assessment for the for the Proposed Development of the Vryburg Solar PV 2 and associated electrical infrastructure, Vryburg, North West Province. Title: Basic Assessment Report for the Proposed Development of the Vryburg Solar 2 and associated electrical infrastructure, Vryburg, North West Province Purpose of this report: Basic Assessment Report for the Proposed Development of the Vryburg Solar 2 and associated electrical infrastructure, Vryburg, North West Province. The purpose of this BA Report is to: Present the proposed project and the need for the proposed project; Describe the affected environment at a sufficient level of detail to facilitate informed decision-making; Provide an overview of the BA Process being followed, including public consultation; Assess the predicted positive and negative impacts of the proposed project on the environment; Provide recommendations to avoid or mitigate negative impacts and to enhance the positive benefits of the project; and Provide an Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) for the proposed project. This BA Report is being made available to all Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs), Organs of State and stakeholders for a 30-day review period (15 August – 14 September 2018). All comments submitted during the 30-day review of this BA Report will be incorporated into a finalised BA Report, as applicable and where necessary. Prepared for: ABO Wind Renewable Energies (Pty) Ltd Prepared by: CSIR, P. O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa Tel: +27 21 888 2400 Fax: +27 21 888 2693 Authors: Paul Lochner, Surina Laurie, Rohaida Abed and Babalwa Mqokeli Mapping: Babalwa Mqokeli CSIR Report Number: TBC CSIR Project Number: EMS0151 Date: August 2018 To be cited as: CSIR, 2018. Basic Assessment for the for the Proposed Development of the Vryburg Solar PV 1 and associated electrical infrastructure, Vryburg, North West Province. CSIR Report Number: TBC pg 1 Basic Assessment for the for the Proposed Development of the Vryburg Solar PV 2 and associated electrical infrastructure, Vryburg, North West Province. SECTION A: INTRODUCTION, PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND LEGISLATIVE REVIEW 22 A.1 Introduction 22 A.2 Project team 22 A.3 Project overview 23 A.3.1 General overview 23 A.3.2 Vryburg Solar 2 project 25 A.4 Project description 26 A.4.1 Solar facility 27 A.4.2 Electrical infrastructure 29 A.4.3 Additional infrastructure 30 A.5 Overview of the Project Development Cycle 31 A.5.1 Construction Phase 31 A.5.2 Operational Phase 32 A.5.3 Decommissioning Phase 32 A.6 Socio-economic 32 A.6.1 Employment during construction 32 A.6.2 Employment during operations 32 A.6.3 Socio-economic investment and development 33 A.7 Service Provision: Water, Sewage, Waste and Electricity Requirements 33 A.7.1 Water Usage 33 A.7.2 Sewage or Liquid Effluent 34 A.7.3 Solid Waste Generation 34 A.7.4 Electricity Requirements 34 A.8 Applicable legislation 35 A.8.1 Description of the listed activities associated with the proposed project 38 A.9 Description of Alternatives 41 A.9.1 No-go Alternative 42 A.9.2 Land-use Alternatives 43 A.9.2.1 Agriculture 43 A.9.2.2 Renewable Energy Alternatives 43 A.9.3 Technology Alternatives 45 A.9.3.1 Solar Panel Types 45 A.9.3.2 Mounting System 45 A.9.4 Site Alternatives 46 A.9.5 Location (layout) Alternatives 47 A.9.6 Concluding Statement for Alternatives 49 A.10 Needs and desirability 49 pg 2 Basic Assessment for the for the Proposed Development of the Vryburg Solar PV 2 and associated electrical infrastructure, Vryburg, North West Province. SECTION B: DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 61 B.1 Property details 61 B.2 Climatic Conditions 62 B.3 Topography and Landscape 64 B.4 Soil Types and Soil Potential 64 B.5 Land capability 64 B.6 Geology 65 B.7 Geohydrology 65 B.8 Biodiversity 66 B.8.1 Terrestrial Environment 66 B.8.1.1 Groundcover 66 B.8.2 Aquatic Environment 67 B.8.3 Avifauna 67 B.9 Heritage Profile 68 B.9.1 Cultural landscape 69 B.9.2 Graves 70 B.9.3 Palaeontology 70 B.10 Socio-Economic Character 71 B.10.1 Demographic Profile 71 B.10.1.1 Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality 71 B.10.1.2 Naledi Local Municipality 72 B.10.1.3 Vryburg Town 73 B.10.2 Level of Unemployment 74 B.10.2.1 Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality 74 B.10.2.2 Naledi Local Municipality 74 B.10.2.3 Vryburg 75 B.10.3 Economic Profile of Local Municipality 75 B.10.3.1 Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality 75 B.10.3.2 Naledi Local Municipality 75 B.10.3.3 Vryburg 76 B.10.4 Level of Education 77 B.10.4.1 Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality 77 B.10.4.2 Naledi Local Municipality 77 B.10.4.3 Vryburg 78 SECTION C: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 79 C.1 Introduction to the Public Participation Process 79 C.2 Landowner written consent 81 C.3 Advertisement and Site Notice board 82 C.4 Determination of appropriate measures 83 C.5 Approach to the PPP 84 C.5.1 BA Report Phase - Review of the BA Report 84 C.5.2 Compilation of finalised BA Reports for Submission to the DEA 85 C.5.3 Environmental Decision-Making 85 C.6 Issues raised by I&APs and comments and response report 86 C.7 Consultation with the DEA (CA) 86 pg 3 Basic Assessment for the for the Proposed Development of the Vryburg Solar PV 2 and associated electrical infrastructure, Vryburg, North West Province. SECTION D: IMPACT ASSESSMENT 87 D.1.1 Approach to the BA: Methodology of the Impact Assessment 87 D.1.2 Assessment of environmental risks and impacts 92 D.1.2.1 Visual 93 D.1.2.1.1 Approach and methodology 93 D.1.2.1.2 Project aspects relevant to visual impacts 94 D.1.2.1.3 Sensitivity of the site in relation to the proposed activity 95 D.1.2.1.3.1 Sensitive visual features 95 D.1.2.1.3.2 Visual exposure 97 D.1.2.1.3.3 Visual intrusion 99 D.1.2.1.4 Visual impacts 100 D.1.2.1.4.1 Impacts Identified for the Construction Phase 100 D.1.2.1.4.2 Impacts Identified for the Operational Phase 100 D.1.2.1.4.3 Impacts Identified for the Decommissioning Phase 100 D.1.2.1.4.4 Cumulative Impacts 100 D.1.2.1.5 Impact Assessment Summary 101 D.1.2.1.6 Concluding statement 104 D.1.2.2 Heritage 104 D.1.2.2.1 Approach and methodology 104 D.1.2.2.2 Project aspects relevant to heritage impacts 105 D.1.2.2.3 Sensitivity of the site in relation to the proposed activity 106 D.1.2.2.4 Heritage impacts 107 D.1.2.2.4.1 Impacts Identified for the Construction Phase 107 D.1.2.2.4.2 Cumulative impact 107 D.1.2.2.5 Impact Assessment Summary 108 D.1.2.2.6 Concluding statement 108 D.1.2.3 Palaeontological Assessment 108 D.1.2.3.1 Approach and methodology 108 D.1.2.3.2 Project aspects relevant to palaeontological impacts 108 D.1.2.3.3 Sensitivity of the site in relation to the proposed activity 109 D.1.2.3.4 Palaeontological impacts 110 D.1.2.3.4.1 Impacts Identified for all phases of the development 110 D.1.2.3.4.2 Impacts Identified for the Construction Phase 110 D.1.2.3.4.3 Impacts Identified for the Operational Phase 110 D.1.2.3.4.4 Impacts Identified for the Decommissioning Phase 110 D.1.2.3.4.5 Cumulative Impacts 111 D.1.2.3.5 Impact Assessment Summary 112 D.1.2.3.6 Concluding statement 114 D.1.2.4 Soils and Agriculture 114 D.1.2.4.1 Approach and methodology 114 D.1.2.4.2 Project aspects relevant to soil and agricultural impacts 115 D.1.2.4.3 Sensitivity of the site in relation to the proposed activity 115 D.1.2.4.4 Soils and agriculture impacts 115 D.1.2.4.4.1 Impacts Identified for the Construction Phase 115 D.1.2.4.4.2 Impacts Identified for the Operational Phase 116 D.1.2.4.4.3 Impacts Identified for the Decommissioning Phase 116 D.1.2.4.4.4 Cumulative Impacts 116 D.1.2.4.5 Impact Assessment Summary 117 D.1.2.4.6 Concluding statement 118 D.1.2.5 Ecology 118 D.1.2.5.1 Approach and methodology 118 D.1.2.5.2 Project aspects relevant to ecological impacts 122 pg 4 Basic Assessment for the for the Proposed Development of the Vryburg Solar PV 2 and associated electrical infrastructure, Vryburg, North West Province.