Proposed Development of the ABO Ujekamanzi Wind Energy Facility 1 and Associated Infrastructure near Amersfoort in the Mpumalanga Province

ABO Ujekamanzi Wind Energy Facility 1 (Pty) Ltd (The Applicant) is proposing to construct the ABO Ujekamanzi Wind Energy Facility (WEF) 1 and associated infrastructure approximately 20 km north-east of Amersfoort in the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality, in Mpumalanga (Figure 1) (DFFE Reference Number: 14/12/16/3/3/2/2356). The overall objective of the proposed development is to generate electricity by means of renewable energy technologies capturing wind energy to feed into the national grid. The proposed development will have a maximum total generation capacity of up to 650 megawatt (MWac).
SiVEST Environmental Division has subsequently been appointed as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed construction and operation of the ABO Ujekamanzi WEF 1 and associated infrastructure. The proposed development requires an Environmental Authorisation (EA) from the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). The EIA for the proposed development will be conducted in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2014 (as amended) promulgated in terms of Chapter 5 of the NEMA. In terms of these regulations, a full EIA process is required for the proposed development. All relevant legislation and guidelines will be consulted during the EIA process and will be complied with at all times.
One additional WEF is concurrently being considered on the adjacent properties and are assessed by way of a separate impact assessment process contained in the 2014 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (GN No. R982, as amended) for listed activities contained within Listing Notices 1, 2 and 3 (GN R983, R984 and R985, as amended). This project is known as the ABO Ujekamanzi Wind Energy Facility 2 (DFFE Reference Number: 14/12/16/3/3/2/2357).
The grid connection development, is also being proposed by the developer, namely ABO Wind Renewable Energies (Pty) Ltd, and includes the proposed construction of an onsite 400 kV Loop-In-Loop-Out (LILO) Power Line from the existing 400 kV Overhead Power Line to the proposed Main Transmission Substation (MTS) in order to feed electricity generated by the above-mentioned wind farm cluster development (part of separate respective applications for each WEF) into the national grid, which will be assessed in separate EIA’s to be submitted to the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) (DARDLEA Reference Number: 1/3/1/16/1G-292).
The overall objective of the proposed ABO Ujekamanzi WEF projects (which includes the 2 WEFs, Main Transmission Substations, Loop In Loop Out Power Lines and associated infrastructure) is to generate electricity by means of renewable energy technologies, capturing wind energy to feed into the national grid, which will be procured under either the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), other government run procurement programmes, any other program it intends to supply power to or for sale to private entities, if required. To further ensure efficient power delivery, the facility will also incorporate the use of storage technologies like battery energy storage systems (i.e., BESS).