Anglo American Project GAIA - Proposed Development of a Solar PV Facility and associated infrastructure at the Amandelbult Mine, Limpopo Province

Anglo American (AA) and EDF Renewables have partnered to establish a new company called Envusa Energy in South Africa. Their aim is to develop a regional renewable energy ecosystem (RREE). A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) named Amandelbult Solar PV has been created to seek permits for this project. The Amandelbult Complex, owned by Rustenburg Platinum Mines Limited (RPM), a subsidiary of Anglo American Platinum (AAP), will purchase the renewable energy generated by the proposed facility. Amandelbult Solar PV plans to apply for Environmental Authorisation (EA) and Water Use Authorisation (WUA) to develop a solar photovoltaic (PV) facility and related infrastructure on land owned by RPM.

The Amandelbult Mine Complex consists of two underground platinum shafts (Tumela and Dishaba) between the towns of Northam and Thabazimbi in the Limpopo Province. The Project will mostly be located on Portion 1 of the Farm Elandskuil 378 KQ and to a lesser extent on Remaining Extent of Farm Elandskuil 378 KQ, and Portions 0 of Farm Middelaagte 382 KQ and Farm Amandelbult 383 KQ.

The Project involves the construction of a solar PV facility on an approximately 206-hectare (ha) parcel of land and will consist of the following components:

• Development of a 150 MW solar PV facility including mounting structures, inverters, onsite transformers and sub-station, electrical cables and instrumentation and control;
• A new 750 m 132 kilovolt (kV) overhead powerline that will connect to the new onsite sub-station and will loop-in-loop-out (LILO) into the existing Eskom owned 132 kV overhead powerline;
• A new gravel access road that will connect the Project to the existing district road (D1639) within three additional access road linkage alternatives;
• Three possible water reticulation pipeline networks and storage tanks to provide water to the Project site; and
• Ancillary infrastructure such as laydown area(s), conservancy tanks, internal access and maintenance roads, operation and maintenance buildings, site camp, temporary storage, fencing, gates and access control.

SLR Consulting (South Africa) Pty Ltd (SLR) have been appointed by AAP to undertake the EA and WUA for the Project.

Status

Project Notification