Heritage Cases

Sutherland Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd received Environmental Authorisation (EA) (DFFE Ref: 12/12/20/1782/2) dated 10 November 2016 and further amendments to the EA dated, 25 November 2016, 25 August 2017, 10 March 2020, 08 June 2020, 20 July 2021 and the latest 06 December 2021 for the development of a 140MW Sutherland Wind Energy Facility (WEF) and associated infrastructure, in the Northern and Western Cape Provinces. The Sutherland Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd also received EAs for a new proposed onsite substation and associated electrical grid infrastructure to support issued on 14 March 2022 for the Sutherland WEF in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The EA for the onsite substation has been split into an Independent Power Producer (IPP) Portion EA Reference 14/12/16/3/3/1/2458, Switching Station Portion and 132kV powerline EA Reference 14/12/16/3/3/1/2457. Sutherland Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd has also been issued with an EA for Electrical Grid Infrastructure that supports the Sutherland, Sutherland 2 and Rietrug WEF, Northern & Western Cape Provinces (Ref; 14/12/16/3/3/1/2077/AM2) authorised within a 500m grid corridor, this infrastructure consists of a 132kV overhead powerline, 400kV Main Transmission Substation (MTS) and 400kV powerline. A detailed description of the project infrastructure is discussed below. The WEF will include (as authorised):  Up to 34 wind turbines with a hub height of up to 200m and rotor diameter of up to 200m.  The wind turbines will be connected to another by means of medium voltage cable.  An internal gravel road network will be constructed to facilitate movement between turbines on site. These roads will include drainage and cabling.  A hard standing laydown area of a maximum of 10 000 m2 will be constructed; and  A temporary site office will be constructed on site for all contractors, this would be approximately 5000m2 in size.  A 10km portion of the existing access road will be upgraded and widened to a width of 7 metres to facilitate abnormal loads to the Sutherland WEF site. The properties associated with the Sutherland WEF include:  Portion 1 of Beeren Valley Farm 150;  Remaining Extent of Beeren Valley Farm 150;  Portion 1 of Boschmanskloof Farm 9;  Remaining Extent of Nooitgedacht Farm 148; The EMPr associated with the 140MW Sutherland WEF has not been approved as per the EA and will be made available for public review and comment as part of the public participation process. The infrastructure associated with the IPP Portion of the on-site substation (DFFE Ref:. 14/12/16/3/3/1/2458) is located on Remaining Extent of Nooitgedacht Farm 148 and includes:  An IPP portion of the on-site substation (Acrux);  Laydown area;  Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Building;  Fencing of the proposed on-site substation  Battery Energy Storage Infrastructure (BESS) The Generic EMPr associated with the IPP Portion of the on-site substation and the EMPr for the BESS and underground cabling have not been approved as per the EA and will be made available for public review and comment as part of the public participation process. The infrastructure associated with the Switching Station Portion of the on-site substation and 132kV powerline is located on Remaining Extent of Nooitgedacht Farm 148 (DFFE Ref: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2457/AM1) includes:  Switching Station portion of the on-site substation:  Fencing;  132kV distribution line from the proposed Sutherland WEF on-site substation to the Koring Main Transmission Substation (MTS) third party substation including tower/pylon infrastructure and foundations;  Connection to the Koring MTS third party substation; and  Service road below the powerline. The Generic EMPr’s associated with the Eskom Portion of the on-site substation and 132kV powerline have not been approved as per the EA and will be made available for public review and comment as part of the public participation process. The infrastructure associated with electrical grid infrastructure (within a 500m corridor) to support the Sutherland, Sutherland 2 and Rietrug WEFs in the Northern and Western Cape Provinces (DFFE Ref:. 14/12/16/3/3/1/2077/AM2) includes:  Koring Main Transmission Substation (MTS) including O&M building and laydown area;  Fencing of the proposed on-site substation;  Overhead 132kV powerline from the Sutherland WEF on-site substation to the Koring MTS;  Overhead 400kV powerline connecting to the proposed 400kV Koring MTS and an existing 400kV Eskom powerline  Service roads will be constructed below the powerline (jeep tracks) The properties associated with the Electrical Grid Infrastructure to support the Sutherland WEF includes:  Remaining extent of Hartebeeste Fontein Farm 147;  Remaining Extent of Nooitgedacht Farm 148;  Remaining Extent of Beeren Valley Farm 150;  Portion 1 of Farm 219;  Remaining extent of Farm 219;  Remaining extent of Farm 280;  Portion 1 of Rheebokkenfontein Farm 4;  Portion 2 of Rheebokkenfontein Farm 4;  Portion 2 of De Molen Farm 5;  Portion 6 of Hamelkraal Farm 16; and  Portion 7 of Hamelkraal Farm 16;  Remainder of Spitzkop Farm 20 It must be noted that the EMPr (CSIR, 2019), and Addendum to the EMPr (Nala, July 2021) has been approved and will be included within the Appendices and the Final Layout for completeness. In this regard, Sutherland Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd. is preparing prepared the Environmental Management Programme report’s and Final Layout for review and comment. In accordance with Environmental Authorisation issued, the Sutherland Wind Energy Facility and associated grid infrastructure, the relevant EMPr’s and Site Layout are available for a 30-day public comment and review period from 08 December 2022 to 30 January 2023 (both days inclusive).