Mainstream- Bultfontein Solar PV Cluster, Free State

South Africa Mainstream Renewable Power Developments (Pty) Ltd (Mainstream) is proposing to develop 8 x 100 megawatt (MW) and 1 x 160 MW Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Facilities (SEFs) and associated infrastructure, including Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), near the town of Bultfontein, Free State Province.

The overall objective of the proposed SEFs is to generate electricity by means of renewable energy technology, capturing solar energy to feed into the national grid. The proposed development is collectively known as the “Bultfontein Solar PV Cluster”, with a total combined generation capacity of up to 960 MW.

The nine SEF projects which make up the Bultfontein Solar PV Cluster include the following:
• 160 MW Kganya SEF
• 100 MW Diboko SEF
• 100 MW Sungazer SEF
• 100 MW Letsha SEF
• 100 MW Kabelo SEF
• 100 MW Baatsheba SEF
• 100 MW Mohlolo SEF
• 100 MW Kamva SEF
• 100 MW Agama SEF

Nine separate applications for Environmental Authorisation (EA) will be submitted for the above- mentioned SEF projects, 1 for each SEF making up the Bultfontein Solar PV Cluster.

It should be noted that six of the nine SEF projects which make up the Bultfontein Solar PV Cluster are located entirely within a Renewable Energy Development Zone (REDZ), namely Kimberley REDZ, and thus Basic Assessment (BA) processes are required. These include the Sungazer; Baatsheba; Kamva; Agama; Kganya and Mohlolo SEF projects. Full Scoping & Environmental Impact Assessment (S&EIA) processes are required for the remaining three SEF projects falling outside of the REDZ. These include the Diboko; Kabelo and Letsha SEF projects.

The proposed projects require Environmental Authorisations (EAs) from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). Mainstream appointed SLR Consulting (South Africa) Pty Ltd as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake the required BAs and S&EIAs for the proposed projects.

Status

Notice is hereby given, in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2014 promulgated under NEMA, that the 3 X Scoping Reports (SRs) prepared for the above-mentioned project has been made available for a 30-day public review and comment period from 30 April 2024 to 03 June 2024.

Should you and/or your organisation wish to comment on any aspect of the SR, comments should be forwarded to SLR at the email address and telephone number shown above. For comments to be included in the BAR prepared for the decision-making purposes, they should reach SLR by no later than 03 June 2024.

By providing your personal information to submit a comment, you will be included in the SLR an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) database, and you consent to SLR managing your information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013. 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 Social and Environmental Impact Assessments (ESIA) and that you confirm your acceptance for SLR to contact you regarding this and/or other ESIA processes. SLR will not process your Personal Information, other than as permitted or required by ESIA processes, or as required by law or public policy. SLR will use reasonable, appropriate security safeguards 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 ESIA 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.