Thungela Navigation 22kV OHL powerline relocation

Thungela Resources Limited (hereinafter referred to as Thungela) operates its Navigation Colliery in Emalahleni within the Nkangala District Municipality of the Mpumalanga province. Navigation Colliery (part of Khwezela North Operations) is an opencast thermal coal mine that produces coal for both local and international markets.
WSP Group Africa (Pty) Ltd (hereafter referred to as WSP) was appointed by Thungela to apply for SAHRA for its proposed 22KV powerline relocation footprint at its Navigation Colliery.
It is Thungela Navigation intention to relocate an existing Eskom 22kv powerline to continue with mining development. It is the consultant’s understanding that:
-The proposed 22KV line relocation footprint will be in close proximity to wetland areas and may cross a watercourse;
-The capacity of the line is below the trigger threshold for expansion / construction (32KV); and
-The pylons will be located in proximity to a wetland (within 500 m) of the delineated wetland associated with the watercourse crossing.
The above requires authorisation in terms of General Authorisation (GA). It is noted that on 10 March 2023, Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) published for comment revisions to the General Authorisation requirements, which will remove ESKOM powerlines (in proximity to wetlands) from having to obtain authorisation. however, it is understood that the pylons from Thungela will not be located within the footprint of a delineated wetland but they will be in close proximity of a delineated wetland, therefore, the proposed project will not trigger any requirement for an Environmental Authorisation (EA) or a Water Use Licence (WUL) as no listed activities or water uses are triggered under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) or National Water Act (NWA), respectively.
As per Section 38 (1) of the National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999): Subject to the provisions of subsection (7), (8) and (9), any person who intends to undertake a development as - (a) the construction of a road, wall, powerline, pipeline, canal or other similar form of linear development or barrier exceeding 300 m in length; must at the very earliest stages of initiating such a development, notify the responsible heritage resources authority and furnish it with details regarding the location, nature and extent of the proposed development.
This application serves as a notice for the intent to relocate the powerline. The powerline is approximately 2.35 km long and will be relocated to a rehabilitated opencast footprint. The powerline relocation is proposed to be on the following farm portions in the Mpumalanga province: - Schoongezicht 308 JS Portion RE/308; and - Witbank No 307 JS Portion RE/61.