Proposed Development of the Mfundisi BESS near Welkom in the Free State Province

K2023230285 (SOUTH AFRICA) (Pty) Ltd (hereafter “the company”) proposes the development of a Battery Energy Storage System facility and associated infrastructure. It is intended for the proposed BESS facility, and gridlines, to be registered with the DFFE in terms of the recent gazetted notice on 27 March 2024 (GN 4557 of 2024), the Norm for the Exclusion of the Development and Expansion of Battery Energy Storage System Facilities in Areas of Low or Medium Environmental Sensitivity (the Norms).
Following the above process, the need for Environmental Authorisation is not required. However, in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999), approval from SAHRA is required since the proposed development will trigger activity(ies) in Section 38 of the Act.
The proposed BESS facility is located approximately four kilometres northeast of the town of Welkom located within the Matjhabeng Local Municipality and the Lejweleputswa District Municipality in the Free State province. The proposed development footprints for consideration, the preferred and the alternative site, are located on Farm Vooruitgang 52.

Province(s): Free State