RE: NOTIFICATION OF SUBMISSION OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR PUBLC REVIEW AND COMMENT FOR THE PROPOSED LOXTON WIND ENERGY FACILITY 1, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE

DFFE Reference: 14/12/16/3/3/2/2236

Nature of Activity: Loxton Wind Facility 1 (Pty) Ltd (‘the Project Applicant’) is proposing the construction and operation of the Loxton Wind Energy Facility 1. The facility is proposed for a potential generation capacity of up to 240 MW, and will comprise various buildings, access roads, a battery energy storage system (BESS), and a substation hub with associated electrical grid infrastructure such as but not limited to a 132kV / 400 kV overhead transmission powerline connecting the WEF to the national electrical grid network.

Development Location: The proposed Loxton WEF 1 is located ~ 30 km north of the town of Loxton and fall within the Ubuntu Local Municipality and Pixley ka Seme District Municipality in the Northern Cape Province.

Application Process: In terms of Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998 – NEMA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014 (as amended), the Project Applicant appointed Arcus Consultancy Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Arcus), to act as the project manager and to undertake the Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (S&EIA) process as the independent environmental impact assessment practitioner (EAP).

In terms of Section 21 of the National Water Act (NWA) (36 of 1998), as amended, the development may potentially require water use license. If required, an application for Water Use License will be submitted to the Department of Human Settlement and Water and Sanitation for authorisation.

The Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the Loxton WEF 1 and associated infrastructure is being subjected to the required 30-day comment and review period, from Wednesday, 11 May 2023 until Friday, 09 June 2023 (both days inclusive), taking into consideration Chapter 2 Regulation 3 (1); (2) and (3) of the NEMA, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998). Comments received during the scoping phase were incorporated, addressed and responded to in the Draft EIA report. Following the 30-day public comment and review period of the Draft EIA report, the Final EIA report will be submitted to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (competent authority) for Environmental Authorisation.

Volume I: Draft EIA Report

01 Loxton WEF 1 DEIAr_v3-0_20230511
02 Appx A EAP CV & DOI
03 Appx B EMPr
04 Appx C Design Evolution Summary Report

Volume II: Specialist Scoping Reports

0 Volume III Cover Page L1
1. Loxton WEF 1 Screening Tool Report
2. Soil and Agriculture L1 Compliance Statement
3. Freshwater and Aquatics L1 IA Report
4. Terrestrial Biodiversity L1 IA Report
5. Plant L1 Compliance Statement
6. Karoo Dwarf Tortoise L1 IA Report
7. Avifauna L1 IA Report
8. Bats L1 IA Report
9. Noise L1 IA Report
10. Visual L1 IA Report
11. Heritage L1 IA Report
12. Palaeontological L1 Compliance Statement (2)
13. Socio-Economic L1 IA Report
14. Traffic and Transport L1 IA Report
15. Stormwater Management Report L1
16. SKA L1 No Objection Letter
17. Geotechnical L1 Desktop Study
18. EAP SSV Letter - CAA & Defence

Volume III: Public Participation Report

Vol III DEIAR Loxton WEF 1 PP Report_PUBLIC

 

With reference to the above, please send any queries to the below address. Please also indicate the contact details of any other potential I&APs that should be contacted and registered.

Arcus Consultancy Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Arcus Reference: 4462 Loxton WEF Cluster

Via Email: LoxtonWEF@arcusconsulting.co.za

Via Online AidaForm: https://loxtonwef.aidaform.com/stakeholder-engagement

Via Telephone: +27105963502 / +27 (0) 72 595 0104

Contact Person: Ashlin Bodasing

Please note, regarding the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPI Act 4 of 2013, as amended): If you request to register as an I&AP, your personal information will be made available to an appellant in the case of an appeal, and an applicant/EAP/independent person for purposes of being informed and given access to an audit report.

Correspondence throughout the Application Process will only be distributed to Registered I&APs. Registration is possible throughout the Application Process.

Thank you for the interest in the project.