Environmental Impact Assessment Study for the proposed Concentrated Solar Power Plant (Parabolic Trough) on the farm Sand Draai 391, Northern Cape – Final Consultation Environmental Impact Report April 2016 Document Description Client: Solafrica Energy (Pty) Ltd Project Name: Environmental Impact Assessment Study for the proposed Concentrated Solar Power Plant (Parabolic Trough) on the farm Sand Draai 391, Northern Cape Royal HaskoningDHV Reference Number: T01.JNB.000565 Compiled by: Johan Blignaut Date: April 2016 Location: Woodmead Review and approval: Prashika Reddy Page | i Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Background ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment Study ............................................................... 1 1.2.1 Conclusions of the Environmental Scoping Study (ESS) ................................................................... 1 1.2.2 Environmental Impact Assessment Process ...................................................................................... 2 1.2.2.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Report Structure .................................................................. 2 1.2.2.2 Specialist Studies ......................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.2.3 Final Environmental Management Programme ............................................................................ 5 1.3 Concurrent Licencing Processes ....................................................................................................... 6 1.3.1 Water Use Licence ............................................................................................................................. 6 1.3.2 Zoning ................................................................................................................................................ 7 1.4 Details of the Environmental Assessment Practitioner ...................................................................... 8 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................ 9 2.1 Site Locality ........................................................................................................................................ 9 2.2 Detailed Design of the CSP Plant using Parabolic Trough Technology ............................................ 9 2.2.1 Solar Collector Field Parabolic Trough Systems ............................................................................. 12 2.2.1.1 Parabolic Trough Collectors ....................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1.2 Receiver Tube ............................................................................................................................ 12 2.2.1.3 Base Frame, Connecting Elements, Tracking and Control System ........................................... 12 2.2.2 Power Block ..................................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.2.1 Pre-heating System .................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.2.2 Steam Generator System ........................................................................................................... 14 2.2.2.3 Steam Turbine Generator ........................................................................................................... 14 2.2.2.4 Air Cooled Condenser ................................................................................................................ 14 2.2.2.5 Generator/Synchronous Motor ................................................................................................... 15 2.2.2.6 Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) .......................................................................................................... 15 2.2.3 Auxiliary Facilities/Infrastructure ...................................................................................................... 15 2.2.3.1 Water Abstraction System .......................................................................................................... 15 2.2.3.2 Water Storage (Regulation) Ponds ............................................................................................ 17 2.2.3.3 Water Treatment Infrastructure .................................................................................................. 18 2.2.3.4 Access Roads ............................................................................................................................. 19 2.2.3.5 Power Line .................................................................................................................................. 19 Page | ii 2.2.3.6 Waste Generation (Liquid Effluent) ............................................................................................ 20 2.2.3.7 Evaporation Ponds ..................................................................................................................... 21 2.2.3.8 Sanitary Waste ........................................................................................................................... 22 2.2.3.9 Solid Waste Generation.............................................................................................................. 23 2.2.3.10 Storeroom(s), Laydown Area, Construction Camp and Assembly Plant ................................... 24 2.3 Operations ........................................................................................................................................ 25 3 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ....................................................................................... 26 3.1 Site Alternatives ............................................................................................................................... 26 3.1.1 Site Alternatives identified within the Northern Cape Province ........................................................ 26 3.1.2 Consideration of the Sand Draai Farm for the Development of the new CSP Plant ....................... 27 3.2 Technology Alternatives ................................................................................................................... 28 3.3 Design/Layout Alternatives .............................................................................................................. 30 3.3.1 Linear Infrastructure Corridors ......................................................................................................... 30 3.3.1.1 Water Supply Pipelines .............................................................................................................. 30 3.3.1.2 Access Roads ............................................................................................................................. 30 3.3.1.3 Power (Transmission) Line ......................................................................................................... 30 3.4 No-Go Alternative ............................................................................................................................. 31 4 PROJECT NEED AND DESIRABILITY ...................................................................... 32 5 LEGISLATION ............................................................................................................ 35 5.1 National Environmental Management Act (No 107 of 1998) ........................................................... 35 5.1.1 EIA Regulations (2014) .................................................................................................................... 35 5.2 National Environmental Management: Waste Act (No 59 of 2008) ................................................. 37 5.3 The National Water Act (No 36 of 1998) .......................................................................................... 38 5.4 National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (No 39 of 2004) ........................................... 39 5.5 Hazardous Substance Act (No 15 of 1973) and Regulations .......................................................... 39 5.6 Other Relevant Acts, Guidelines, Department Policies and Environmental Management Instruments 40 6 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION .......................................................................................... 42 6.1 Consultation with Competent Authorities ......................................................................................... 43 6.2 Consultation with other Relevant Authorities and Key Stakeholders ............................................... 44 6.3 I&AP Database ................................................................................................................................. 44 6.4 Identification of Interested and Affected Parties .............................................................................. 44 6.5 Advertising ........................................................................................................................................ 44 6.6 Issues Trail ....................................................................................................................................... 44 6.7 Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and