ABO Wind – Proposed Aggeneis Substation Expansion, Northern Cape

Electricite de France S.A (EDF SA) is an energy company that actively invests, owns, and operates power projects internationally and in South Africa. EDF SA is the lead member of the Oasis Aggeneis Consortium, the sponsors of the “Oasis Aggeneis BESS” Battery Energy Storage Project, which was selected as a Preferred Bidder on 30 November 2023 under the first bid submission phase of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s Request for Qualification and Proposals (“RFP”) for the Battery Energy Storage Capacity Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (“ESIPPPP”) Tender No: DMRE/028/2022/23.

The existing Aggeneis Main Transmission Substation (MTS) (an Eskom asset), 5 km from Aggeneys town in the Northern Cape, requires expansion to facilitate the grid connection of the new Oasis Aggeneis Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project and various other projects in the area. The special purpose vehicle (SPV) is currently named ABO Wind Aggeneys 1 PV (Pty) Ltd., which will be renamed to Oasis Aggeneis (Pty) Ltd. later in the financial close process by undertaking the required amendment process as per the EIA Regulations of 2014.

The project company responsible for developing the Oasis Aggeneis BESS project is Oasis Aggeneis (Pty) Ltd. and was awarded the BID for a 77 MW BESS facility with a capacity of 308 MWh. The Aggeneis BESS and associated infrastructure have been awarded the relevant Environmental Authorizations (EAs) for construction, listed below:

• EA for the proposed construction of Aggeneys 1 100 MW Solar PV Facility and associated infrastructure (Ref: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2019).
• EA Amendment for the inclusion of a BESS (Ref: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2019/AM1).
• EA for the construction of the Aggeneys 1 grid connection infrastructure (Ref: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2023).
• EA Amendment for the construction of grid connection infrastructure (Ref: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2023/AM1).

The above-mentioned ESIPPPP is intended to strengthen the grid and add energy storage capacity services to Eskom.

Project Description:

The MTS expansion to which this application refers requires an upgrade to facilitate the grid connection of the new BESS project. The MTS, located approximately 5 km southeast of the town of Aggeneys and accessible via the N14, will undergo significant enhancements. This includes expanding the existing 400 kV yard with associated infrastructure, establishing a 132 kV switchyard with associated infrastructure, and introducing 400/132 kV transformation with associated infrastructure. The existing Aggeneis MTS does not have sufficient space to accommodate this work, necessitating the expansion of the substation boundary to include an area of approximately 19.9 hectares, 16.2 hectares of which are outside the current substation footprint and have been historically disturbed due to the existing substation.

During the construction period, the laydown and office area will be situated within the perimeter fence, which will be extended to the new footprint to accommodate the additional transformers and switchyard. The expansion area, approximately 16 hectares and previously disturbed by the existing substation, will be accessed using the existing road network. SLR Consulting, an independent firm of Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs), has been appointed by ABO Wind Aggeneys 1 PV (Pty) Ltd (Oasis Aggeneis) to manage the Environmental Authorization (EA) process associated with the proposed project. Should the EA be granted by the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development, and Land Reform (DAEARDLR), Oasis Aggeneis will be responsible for the construction of the proposed project. Once complete, all responsibility for management and maintenance will revert to Eskom.

Prior to the commencement of the proposed project, Environmental Authorisation (EA) is required from the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform (DAEARDLR) in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (as amended) (No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA). The proposed project consists of activities listed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014 (as amended) (EIA Regulations) Listing Notice 1, 2, and 3 (GN R 983, GN R 984, and GN R 985 of 2014 as amended). Additionally, the MTS is located in the Northern Corridor for Electrical Grid Infrastructure (EGI) (GN R 113 of 2018 as amended) and is thus subject to a Basic Assessment (BA) Process with a 57-day decision timeframe.

SLR Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (SLR), an independent firm of environmental assessment practitioners, has been appointed to undertake this environmental authorisation process.

Status

Notice is hereby given of the intention to make an application for Environmental Authorisation and undertake a 30 day (ending 26 July 2024) public participation process in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014 (GN R 982 of 2014) promulgated in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA).

If you register and supply your contact details as an I&AP for this Project, you will be included in the SLR I&AP database. It is assumed that as an I&AP for this Project, you authorise SLR to retain and use your Personal Information as part of a contact database for this and/or other EIA and that you confirm your acceptance for SLR to contact you regarding this and/or other EIA processes. SLR will not process your Personal Information, other than as permitted or required by EIA processes, or as required by law or public policy. SLR will use reasonable, appropriate security safeguards in order to protect Personal Information and to reasonably prevent any damage to, loss of, or unauthorised access or disclosure of Personal Information, other than as required for EIA processes or as required by any Law or public policy. You may request for your Personal Information to be deleted from the I&AP database at any time by contacting SLR.