Heritage Cases

Ivanplats (Pty) Ltd (Ivanplats), a subsidiary of Ivanhoe Mines, is a holder of an existing Mining Right (MR) granted by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) in 2014 (DMRE Reference No. LP 30/5/2/2/1/10067 MR). The MR was issued for the development of an underground mine, namely the Platreef Mine, on the farms Macalacaskop 243 KR and Turfspruit 241 KR. The mine has a Life of Mine (LoM) of 30 years. In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint and ensure continued electricity supply for the Platreef operations, Ivanplats proposes to develop a solar photovoltaic (PV) facility over three (3) identified areas namely Area 1, Area 2 and Area 3. The development will be undertaken in a phased approach, commencing with the initial phase yielding a 3MW power supply from Area 2 and 2MW power supply from Area 3. In total these areas can yield up to 7MW of electricity supply. Area 3 has been identified as a parking area and will have solar panels mounted on the roof of the carports. Area 2 will comprise of fixed structures anchored to the ground and mounted with the latest N-type TopCON, bi-facial, double glass solar modules. The fixed structures will be 6.4 m apart, leaving sufficient space for vehicles to drive between the rows for maintenance purposes. The fixed structures will have a height of 1.25 m at the lowest point. Area 1 will be developed in future with anchored fixed mounted with solar modules similar to that of Area 2. The entire solar facility will supply up to 19MW of electricity for private consumption at the mine operations. In total, the solar PV facility will encompass an area of 19.59 hectares. The main components of the solar PV plant will include the following: • PV modules, which convert solar radiation into direct current (DC). • The fixed mounting structure, which supports the PV modules. • Central inverters, which convert DC from solar field to alternating current (AC). • Power Transformers, which raise the voltage level from low to medium. • Power Stations, which hold the necessary equipment to convert the DC power to AC. • Platreef grid connection infrastructure - the solar facility will connect to the existing Platreef 8MVA substation. The power corridor will comprise a dual-circuit overhead powerline (OHL), approximately 500m in length, at a voltage level of 11kV. The project will require water to facilitate both the construction and operational phases of the solar facility. Water will be sourced from the existing mine boreholes and stored in existing water storage dams on site. Water will be required for use during construction as well as during operations to clean the PV panels. No new access roads are proposed for the facility. The facility will make use of those roads already authorised for the mine. A fence around the facility will be installed for security purposes. Platreef mine plans to establish a control room which will serve the entire mine, including the solar facility. Additionally, the mine will also have permanent security patrolling the site. The Heritage Consultant was contracted by OMI Solutions (Pty) Ltd to compile a Memorandum (Memo) based on a number of completed Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) and Specialist Assessment Reports conducted for the Platreef Mining Project and associated developments. The aim of the Memo is to provide a professional opinion as to potential short and long-term direct and indirect impacts of the proposed Platreef Solar Project and its components, on the heritage landscape, based on past and present heritage work at the Platreef Mine.