Heritage Cases

GIBB (Pty) Ltd (GIBB) has been appointed by Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, Eskom Distribution – Northern Cape Operating Unit (Eskom) to undertake an environmental authorisation process in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) as amended (NEMA) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations of 2014, as amended for the deviation and refurbishment of the existing 132kV powerline from the Oasis substation to the Taaipit substation, Northern Cape Province (refer to Figure 1 & Appendix 6). A 200m corridor will be assessed along each of the proposed routes to determine the environmental impacts and significance of these impacts associated with the proposed development. The five wooden pole structures are failing and these failures most commonly come from the cross arms. The normal ground inspection is not adequate to identify the cracks on top of the lines or structures. Aerial inspection has been identified as an appropriate method to identify these cracks and/or defects. However, the Aerial inspection is quiet expensive as the helicopter is being used during the inspection. The cost of rebuilding these lines are very high and not justified as no return will be realized from rebuilding them. Pole replacement is the only reasonable and cost effective strategy at this point time. There is a need to deviate the line due to the inaccessibility of structure OA/TA 151. Also, the realignment at the Oasis substation is needed to enhance the arrangement of the substation. At a regional level, the study area lies within the Northern Cape Province and is situated within the Kai !Garib Local Municipality. The route for the proposed powerline deviation extending from the Oasis substation to the Taaipit substation, is an approximate distance of 42.5km. The study site consists of two alternatives to the powerline route deviation. The deviation is located along the line near Lutzburg and has two alternatives. Alternative 1 is approximately 1 020m long and Alternative 2 (preferred) is approximately 700m long. The entire route, including both alternatives is to be upgraded from the wooden 5-pole pylon structure to the steel monopole pylon structures.