Acwa Power Africa Holdings (Pty) Ltd
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
January 2015 ACWA POWER AFRICA HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD Draft Scoping Report: Proposed Solar Power Development on the Remaining Extent of Farm Bokpoort 390, Northern Cape DEA Reference Numbers: PV1 14/12/16/3/3/2/802 PV4 14/12/16/3/3/2/805 PV2 14/12/16/3/3/2/803 GS Trough 1 / Tower 1 14/12/16/3/3/2/800 PV3 14/12/16/3/3/2/804 GS Trough 2 / Tower 2 14/12/16/3/3/2/801 Distributed for public comment from: 28 January 2015 to 27 February 2015 Report Number: 1400951 Distribution: 1 x !Kheis Local Municipality Clinic 1 x !Kheis Local Municipality Public Library DRAFT REPORT 1 x Golder Associates Africa Library - Midrand BOKPOORT II SOLAR DEVELOPMENT - DRAFT SCOPING REPORT PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT ACWA Power Africa Holdings (Pty) Ltd (herein referred to as ACWA) is proposing to establish a solar facility (Bokpoort II) on the north-eastern portion of the Remaining Extent (RE) of the farm Bokpoort 390, which is 20 km northwest of the town of Groblershoop within the !Kheis Local Municipality in the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, Northern Cape Province. In order to obtain Environmental Authorisation for the proposed project, ACWA Power is required to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in terms of GN R. 982 of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998) (as amended). This EIA is being conducted in line with international standards, such as the Equator Principles (EP) and the requirements of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Golder Associates Africa (Pty) Ltd, an independent consultant, is conducting the EIA and is compiling the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr). The proposed Bokpoort II project will consist of four (4): 75 Mega Watt (MW) solar energy photovoltaic (PV) facilities and two (2): 100 MW Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) facilities which will either be CSP Parabolic Trough or a CSP Tower. The combined power generation capacity of the entire Bokpoort II solar development will be 500 MW (PV: 300 MW and CSP Trough or Tower: 200 MW). The associated infrastructure to operate the Bokpoort II solar development is also described in this Draft Scoping Report. The applicant for environmental authorisation is an Independent Power Producer (IPP) who intends to bid in the Department of Energy’s (DoE) Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPP), and hence the environmental authorisation applications have been divided according to the DoE’s MW unit requirements. Six (6) stand-alone applications were submitted to Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and were subdivided as follows: Four applications for 4 x 75 MW PV facilities and Two applications for 2 x 100 MW CSP Parabolic Troughs or 100 MW CSP Towers. ACWA Power would like to have the flexibility of bidding for either one of these technology options in the next bid window of the REIPPP Programme. DEA advised that one Scoping Report be drafted which combines the six (6) applications. Additionally DEA has allowed for one (1) combined Public Participation Process for all six (6) applications and their Scoping and EIA process, given the fact that all the solar facilities will be located on the same portion of the Remaining Extent of the Farm Bokpoort 390. The south western portion of the Remaining Extent of Bokpoort 390 has already been permitted for a 75 MW CSP parabolic trough development in the ‘Environmental Impact Assessment for a Proposed 75 MW Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Plant and Associated Infrastructure in the Siyanda District Municipality (DEAT 12/12/20/1920)’ (‘Bokpoort I’ site). The location of the Bokpoort II proposed solar developments falls within the area previously assessed in this EIA. The Bokpoort I EIA’s sensitivity map indicates that the project footprint for the Bokpoort II solar development is in a preferred and acceptable developable area for solar developments. This Draft Scoping Report is being presented to stakeholders so that they can be informed of the proposed development and to give stakeholders an opportunity to provide comments and/or raise issues of concern. The public is consulted on an on-going basis during the EIA process, with issues and concerns being recorded and incorporated into the process for evaluation. Feedback will be provided when a decision on the Project has been made. The public is also given the opportunity to comment on the Project, the proposed activities and the proposed scope of the EIA specialist studies. The comments received thus far have been recorded in this Draft Scoping Report. The Draft Scoping Report will be available for public review and comment from Wednesday, 28 January 2015 to Friday, 27 February 2015. After the public comment period, the report will be updated and made available for public review. Thereafter, the final report will be submitted to the DEA. January 2015 Report No. 1400951 BOKPOORT II SOLAR DEVELOPMENT - DRAFT SCOPING REPORT SUMMARY OF WHAT THIS DRAFT SCOPING REPORT CONTAINS Details of the Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP); Location of the proposed development; Plan which locates the proposed activity or activities applied for at an appropriate scale; Description of the scope of the proposed activity; Description of the policy and legislative context applicable to the proposed development; Motivation for the need and desirability for the proposed development; Full description of the process followed to reach the proposed preferred activity, site and location within the site; Plan of study for undertaking the Environmental Impact Assessment process to be undertaken; and Undertakings under oath or affirmation by the Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP). Impact Environmental Decision‐ Assessment Impact making Scoping Phase Phase Phase Assessment Proponent and Detailed studies of Report To identify issues, authorities use EIA potential impacts, to focus the EIA Consolidate findings of findings to decide positive and impact assessment if project goes negative studies ahead January 2015 Report No. 1400951 BOKPOORT II SOLAR DEVELOPMENT - DRAFT SCOPING REPORT PUBLIC REVIEW OF THE DRAFT SCOPING REPORT This Draft Scoping Report will be available for comment for a period of 30 days from Wednesday, 28 January 2015 to Friday, 27 February 2015. Copies of the Report are available to view at the following public places: Public place Locality Contact person Telephone !Kheis Local Municipal Clinic Groblershoop Aletta Strauss 054 833 0231 !Kheis Public Library Groblershoop Matilda Mathupi 054 833 9500 Golder Associates Africa Midrand Sasha Slogrove- 011 254 4966 Saayman The report is also available on the Golder Associates website: www.golder.com/public OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMENT Stakeholders can comment on the Draft Scoping Report by: Completing the comment sheet enclosed with the report at the public places, and Submitting additional comments by e-mail, fax or telephone to the Public Participation Office. DUE DATE FOR COMMENT ON THIS DRAFT SCOPING REPORT Friday, 27 February 2015 Please submit comments to the Golder Public Participation Office: Sasha Slogrove-Saayman Golder Associates Africa P O Box 6001 HALFWAY HOUSE, 1685 Tel: (011) 254-4800 Fax: 086 582 1561 Email: [email protected] January 2015 Report No. 1400951 BOKPOORT II SOLAR DEVELOPMENT - DRAFT SCOPING REPORT Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Environmental applications ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Overview of the EIA Process ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Draft Scoping Report Content ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Objective of the Scoping Process ................................................................................................................. 6 2.0 PROJECT IDENTIFICATION DETAILS .................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Company responsible for the solar development project (Applicant) ............................................................ 7 2.2 Details of the Environmental Assessment Practitioner ................................................................................. 7 2.3 Project location ............................................................................................................................................. 8 2.4 Proposed plan locating the activity ............................................................................................................... 8 3.0 SCOPE OF THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY ................................................................................................................ 11 3.1 Photovoltaic solar facilities .......................................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) facilities ................................................................................................. 13 3.2.1 CSP Parabolic Trough .......................................................................................................................... 13 3.2.2 CSP Towers .........................................................................................................................................