Proposed 75 MW Kloofsig Solar PV Energy Facility, Northern Cape – Kloofsig 3 Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report Report Prepared for Kloofsig Solar (Pty) Ltd Report Number 486618/11 DEA Reference Number: 14/12/16/3/3/2/953 Report Prepared by February 2017 SRK Consulting: 486618: Kloofsig PV 3: Final EIR Page i Proposed 75 MW Kloofsig Solar PV Energy Facility, Northern Cape – Kloofsig 3 Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report Kloofsig Solar (Pty) Ltd SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd. Ground Floor Bay Suites 1a Humewood Rd. Humerail Port Elizabeth 6001 South Africa e-mail: [email protected] website: www.srk.co.za Tel: +27 (0) 41 509 4800 Fax:+27 (0) 41 509 4850 SRK Project Number 486618 February 2017 Compiled by: Peer Reviewed by: Karien Killian, MSc Rob Gardiner, Pr Sci Nat Environmental Scientist Partner, Principal Environmental Scientist Nicola Rump, MSc, CEAPSA Principal Environmental Scientist Email: [email protected] Authors: K Killian, N Rump kilk/RUMP 486618_Kloofsig 3 PV_FEIR_20170214.docx February 2017 SRK Consulting: 486618: Kloofsig PV 3: Final EIR Page xv Table of Contents Executive Summary Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................................. xxvi 1 Background and Introduction ..................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the study ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 The environmental impact assessment process ................................................................................. 3 1.2.1 2014 NEMA EIA Regulations .................................................................................................. 3 1.2.2 Objectives of the EIA ............................................................................................................... 5 1.2.3 Approach to the EIA ................................................................................................................ 5 1.3 Relevant legislation ............................................................................................................................. 9 1.3.1 National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA) ............................. 9 1.3.2 National Heritage Resources Act No. 25, 1999 .................................................................... 10 1.3.3 National Water Act No. 36 of 1998 ........................................................................................ 10 1.3.4 Integrated Energy Plan for the Republic of South Africa, March 2003 ................................. 11 1.3.5 Electricity Regulation Act (Act No. 4 of 2006) ....................................................................... 11 1.3.6 Astronomy Geographic Advantage areas Act (No. 21 of 2007) ............................................ 12 1.3.7 Other relevant environmental legislation ............................................................................... 14 1.4 Details and Expertise of the Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs) ............................... 15 1.5 Statement of SRK Independence ..................................................................................................... 16 1.6 Assumptions and limitations ............................................................................................................. 16 1.6.1 Archaeology .......................................................................................................................... 17 1.6.2 Avifauna................................................................................................................................. 17 1.6.3 Ecological .............................................................................................................................. 17 1.6.4 Socio-economic ..................................................................................................................... 18 1.6.5 Visual ..................................................................................................................................... 19 1.6.6 Traffic..................................................................................................................................... 19 1.7 Structure of this report....................................................................................................................... 20 2 Description of Development Proposal ...................................................................... 21 2.1 Need and Desirability ........................................................................................................................ 21 2.1.1 Electricity Supply ................................................................................................................... 21 2.1.2 Social and Economic Development ...................................................................................... 22 2.1.3 Climate Change ..................................................................................................................... 22 2.1.4 Planning Policy Framework ................................................................................................... 23 2.2 Location and Site Description of the Proposed Project .................................................................... 30 2.3 Detailed Description of the Proposed Project ................................................................................... 30 2.3.1 Proposed Activities ................................................................................................................ 30 2.3.2 Employment .......................................................................................................................... 33 2.3.3 Associated Infrastructure/Services ........................................................................................ 33 2.4 Project Development Phases and Associated Physical Activities .................................................... 34 2.4.1 Construction Phase (12 – 18 Months) ................................................................................... 34 kilk/RUMP 486618_Kloofsig 3 PV_FEIR_20170214.docx February 2017 SRK Consulting: 486618: Kloofsig PV 3: Final EIR Page xvi 2.4.2 Operation and Maintenance Phase (± 20 years) .................................................................. 35 2.4.3 Decommissioning Phase ....................................................................................................... 35 2.5 Transportation of equipment and materials to site ............................................................................ 35 2.6 Project Alternatives ........................................................................................................................... 36 2.6.1 Activity Alternatives ............................................................................................................... 39 2.6.2 Site and Layout Alternatives ................................................................................................. 39 2.6.3 Technology Alternatives – PV panels ................................................................................... 39 2.6.4 Technology alternatives - 132 kV Power Lines ..................................................................... 45 2.6.5 Operational Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 45 2.6.6 Decommissioning or repowering ........................................................................................... 46 2.6.7 No-Go Alternative .................................................................................................................. 46 3 Description of the Affected Environment ................................................................. 47 3.1 Biophysical Environment ................................................................................................................... 47 3.1.1 Regional Planning Context .................................................................................................... 47 3.1.2 Site Sensitivity Assessment .................................................................................................. 47 3.1.3 Topography ........................................................................................................................... 48 3.1.4 Hydrology .............................................................................................................................. 48 3.1.5 Geology ................................................................................................................................. 48 3.1.6 Climate .................................................................................................................................. 53 3.1.7 Current Land Use .................................................................................................................. 53 3.1.8 Heritage ................................................................................................................................. 53 3.1.9 Vegetation and Flora ............................................................................................................. 54 3.1.10 Animal Species ...................................................................................................................... 56 3.2 Socio-Economic