Part 2 Amendment for the development of a 150MW Springbok Photovoltaic Solar Facility and Associated Infrastructure, near Welkom/Virginia, Free State Province

The Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the Springbok SPP was issued on 25 April 2022, for the development of a 150 MW photovoltaic solar facility and associated infrastructure on the Farm Weltevrede No. 638, Registration Division Theunissen, situated within the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State Province. The holder of the EA for the Springbok SPP started with construction of the facility on 11 December 2023.
Subsequently South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) indicated that the approved access point should only be used during the construction phase and that a different access point must be used during the operational phase of the project in line with the South African National Road Classification and Access Management Manual (TRH26). As a result, the holder of the EA for the Springbok SPP is proposing amendments to the EA which mainly relates to an additional access point and an additional internal road. Furthermore, the Applicant seeks to obtain approval of the amended layout (to include the additional access point and internal road), as well as approval of the amended facility Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) to include the amended layout.
Province(s): Free State