Project Overview Project Overview Project Overview Project - PDF document

Content Content 1. Project Overview 2. Description of Proposed Development 3. Project Motivation 4. Legislation • National Environmental Management Act • What is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) • Listed Activities 5. EIA Process 6. Assessment of Alternatives 7. Findings from DEIR and DEMP 8. Way Forward Project Overview Project Overview Project Overview Project Overview Droërrivier Droërrivier Droërrivier Droërrivier Proposed Kappa Substation Muldersvlei Muldersvlei Bacchus Bacchus Existing lines Existing lines Project Overview Project Overview Project Overview Project Overview Droërrivier Droërrivier Droërrivier Droërrivier Proposed Proposed Kappa Kappa Substation Substation Muldersvlei Muldersvlei Bacchus Bacchus Existing lines Existing lines Proposed loop-in and loop-out lines Proposed loop-in and loop-out lines

Description of Proposed Development Description of Proposed Development New 765 / 400 kV Substation • 150 ha - 765 / 400 kV substation • 400 kV loop-in and loop-out transmission power lines for: – Droerrivier / Muldersvlei – Bacchus / Droerriver • Future developments: Not part of this EIA – 765 kV transmission power lines Project Motivation Project Motivation What is an EIA? What is an EIA? • The Western Cape buys most of it’s electricity from • Process to: Eskom – Identify – Identify alternatives to / for development • Approximately 250 million gigajoules of energy was – Identify – Identify the positive and negative impacts of development on the environment (biophysical, consumed in Western Cape in 2004 socio-economic and cultural) • Estimated to grow to 420 million gigajoules in the next 20 years ( Province’s Sustainable Energy Strategy – 2007 ) • From the assessment management / mitigation • Cape Strengthening Programme – improve the reliability measures are developed of electricity supply in the Western Cape • Proposed Kappa substation will ensure easy integration • Overall aim = to prevent prevent environment damage of existing and future electricity supply infrastructure Applicable Legislation Applicable Legislation EIA Process EIA Process • Eskom require Environmental Authorisation to Scoping Phase undertake development To identify issues, to focus the EIA Public Participation • Therefore need to undertake EIA process Impact Assessment Phase • EIA governed under the National Environmental Detailed studies of potential impacts, positive and negative Management Act – EIA Regulations – Listed activities – Listing Notice 2 GN. R. 387 Environmental Impact Report Activity 1(l): The transmission and distribution of above ground electricity Consolidate findings of impact assessment studies with a capacity of 120 kilovolts or more. Activity 2: Any development activity, including associated structures and infrastructure, where the total area of the development is, or is intended to be, 20 ha or more. Decision-making Phase Authorities use EIA findings to decide if project goes ahead Legal Context explained in detail in Chapter 2 of the report EIA Process explained in detail in Chapter 5 of the report.

Assessment of Alternatives Assessment of Alternatives • Identification and examination of alternatives is fundamental in an EIA • Only the DEAT will decide the preferred site. • EIA can only recommend a preferred site from Assessment of Alternatives Assessment of Alternatives the public point of view and environmental perspective • Three site alternatives are being assessed as Alternative 1: Kolkiesrivier well as the “No-Go” alternative Alternative 2: Jurgensfontein Alternative 3: Platfontein Alternatives explained in detail in Chapter 4 of the report Alternative 1: Kolkiesrivier Alternative 1: Kolkiesrivier Kolkies River Proposed substation Current Droerriver – Muldersvlei Alternative 2: Jurgensfontein Alternative 2: Jurgensfontein Drainage lines Proposed substation

Alternative 3: Platfontein Alternative 3: Platfontein Proposed substation Specialist Studies Specialist Studies Geology Geology • Alternative 1 – Kolkiesfontein – Bedrock – Ecca Group, Karoo Supergroup • Ecological Assessment – Should consist of Prince Albert Formation shale but a black appearance was observed on site therefore Whitehill formation which • Heritage Impact Assessment overlies the Prince Albert Formation – Often weathers to greyish white gypsiferous to limestone zone as • Visual Impact Assessment observed on site • Alternative 2 – Jurgensfontein • Seismic and Geologic Hazard Investigation – Bedrock – Tillite of the Dwyka Group • Alternative 3 – Platfontein • Geological and Soil Assessment – Bedrock – Tillite of the Dwyka Group – Rocky outcrops cover 25 – 30 % of the site area – Will limit excavation with power tools to very shallow depth, soil will All detailed specialist reports are attached to the need to be imported DEIR as Appendix Q and are summarised in Chapter 9 of the report Kolkiesriver Kolkiesriver

Jurgensfontein Platfontein Jurgensfontein Platfontein Seismic Activity Seismic Activity Geohazards Geohazards • The Platfontein site is the most advantageous • At Jurgenfontein, active stream channels indicate a from a seismic ground motion perspective, moderate to high flooding hazard followed by the Kolkies River site, and then the • Loose surface sand and unknown depth to water Jurgenfontein site (probability of exceedance table may contribute to a liquefaction hazard in 50 years) • The Platfontein site does not suffer from these • The Jurgenfontein and Kolkies River sites are problems, and is underlain by the hardest rock type each subject to other geohazards that might (Dwyka tillite) among the three sites. Although this make construction of a substation and rock type would make the most stable foundation for the substation, its hardness may drive up grading maintenance problematic costs if large volumes of excavation are required General Social Impacts General Social Impacts Heritage Impact Assessment Heritage Impact Assessment • Expected changes: • Archaeological Sites found of which none are – Demographic worthy of mitigation » Influx of construction workers – Jurgensfontein – 22 – Economic » Compensation for properties (if applicable) – Kolkiesrivier – 48 » Direct / indirect formal employment opportunities to local individuals – Platfontein - 9 » Electricity supply & economic growth » Property values • Jurgensfontein – Institutional and empowerment » Negotiation process – almost all artifact scatters » Additional demand on municipal services – few fragments of ostrich eggshell, organic material was absent. – Socio-cultural – historic leiwater furrow and 3 possible stone cairns » Sense of place – none deemed significant, although the leiwater furrow would best – Geographic be avoided if this site is chosen » Presence of substation and loop-in and loop-out power lines