132kV Grid Connection and Associated Infrastructure for the Igolide Wind Energy Facility, northeast of Fochville, within the Merafong City Local Municipality in the Gauteng Province

Igolide Wind (Pty) Ltd proposes to develop a 132kV switching station, a 132kV single or double circuit powerline, and termination point upgrades (as may be necessary), including possible expansion, to allow for the proposed new 132kV powerline connection (hereafter the “Project”). The Project is intended to feed the electricity generated by the 100MW Igolide Wind Energy Facility (”WEF”) (part of a separate application for Environmental Authorisation) to the national energy grid, with the point of connection being the existing East Drie Five Substation. In terms of Sections 24 and 24D of the NEMA (No. 107 of 1998), as read with GNR 983, GNR 984 and GNR 985 (as amended), the proposed grid connection infrastructure triggers a Basic Assessment (BA) process.
The project includes the following components:
- Construction of 1 x 132kV powerline (either single or double circuit). A corridor of up to 250m in width (125m on either side of the centre line) has been identified for the placement of the up to 132kV single or double circuit power line to allow flexibility in the design of the final powerline route, and for the avoidance of sensitive
environmental features (where possible).
- Construction of 1 x 132kV switching station. The switching station assessment site is ~2.5ha as the switching station will be located adjacent to the 33/132kV on-site IPP substation which is being assessed as part of the Igolide WEF Environmental Authorisation process. A 500m buffer around the switching station has been identified to ensure flexibility in routing the powerline. The switching station will include, but is not limited to:
o A high voltage substation yard to allow for multiple 132kV feeder bays.
o Standard substation electrical equipment, including but not limited to, busbars, office area, operation and control room, workshop and storage area, feeder bays, stringer strain beams, insulators, isolators, conductors, circuit breakers, lightning arrestors, relays, capacitor banks, batteries, wave trappers, switchyard, metering and indication instruments, equipment for carrier current, surge protection and outgoing feeders, as may be required.
o Control building, telecommunication infrastructure, oil dam(s), etc.
o Workshop and office area within the switching station footprint.
o Fencing around the switching station.
o All the access road infrastructure to and within the switching station.
o Associated infrastructure, including but not limited to, lighting, fencing, and buildings required for operation (ablutions, office, workshop and control room, security fencing and gating, parking area, concrete batching plant (if required), waste storage/disposal and storerooms).
- Upgrading of the East Drie Five Substation to accommodate the powerline from the Igolide WEF (feeder bay and transformer upgrade), including expansion within the yard, where required, with a footprint of up to 4ha. Standard substation infrastructure will include operation and control room, transformer oil dam, and standard substation electrical equipment (feeder bays, transformers, busbars, stringer strain beams, insulators, isolators, conductors, circuit breakers, lightning arrestors, relays, capacitor banks, batteries, wave/line trappers, switchyard, metering and indication instruments, equipment for carrier current, surge protection and outgoing feeders, as may be required).
The Project is located approximately 6km northeast of Fochville, within the Merafong City Local Municipality in the Gauteng Province. The entire extent of the Project is located within the Central Corridor of the Strategic Transmission Corridors.
Facility Name: Igolide WEF Electrical Grid Infrastructure
Applicant: ENERTRAG South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Municipalities: Merafong City Local Municipality in the Gauteng Province of South Africa
132kV powerline (single or double circuit): - Single or double circuit 132kV between the proposed switching station and the existing East Drie Five Substation. The powerline design may include:
o Intermediate self-supporting monopole;
o Inline or angle-strain self-supporting monopole;
o Suspension self-supporting monopole;
o Triple pole structure;
o Steel lattice structure; or
o Similar powerline design at 132kV specification.
- The above designs may require anchors with guy-wires or be anchorless. For up to 132kV structures, concrete foundation sizes may vary depending on design type up to 80m2, with depths reaching up to 3.5m typically in a rectangular ‘pad’ shape.
- A working area of approximately 100m x 100m is needed for each of the proposed structures to be constructed.
- Gridline length: approximately 4km
- Height of powerline: up to 40m
- Width of gridline servitude: 32m

A 250m wide corridor (125m on either side of the centre line) has been identified for the assessment and micro-siting of the powerline to avoid sensitivities and ensure technical feasibility.
Switching Station: - Development footprint (permanent infrastructure area): approximately 2.5ha as the switching station will be located adjacent to the 33/132kV on-site IPP substation which is being assessed as part of the Igolide WEF Environmental Authorisation process.
- Capacity: 132kV
- Standard substation electrical equipment, including, but not limited to, busbars, control building, telecommunication infrastructure, office area, operation and control room, workshop and storage area, feeder bays, stringer strain breams, insulators, arrestors, relays, capacitor banks, batteries, wave trappers, switchyard, metering and indication instruments, equipment for carrier current, surge protection and outgoing feeders, as may be required.
- Associated infrastructure, including, but not limited to, lighting, fencing (~2m high), gating, parking area, and buildings required for operation (ablutions, office, workshop and control room, concrete batching plant (if required), waste storage/disposal and storerooms).
Termination point upgrades: Upgrades to the existing East Drie Five Substation will also be required, including possible expansion within the yard, where required, with a footprint of up to 4ha. This includes the installation of additional feeders bays to accommodate the power being evacuated from the proposed Igolide WEF and transformer upgrades.
Access roads: - During construction, a permanent access road along the length of the powerline corridor, between 4 – 6m wide will be established to allow for large crane movement. This track will then be utilised for maintenance during operation.
- Permanent access roads to and within the substation, up to 8m wide, will be established.
Affected farm portion/s - Portion 20 of Kraalkop 147 IQ
- Portion 31 of Kraalkop 147 IQ
- Portion 40 of Kraalkop 147 IQ
- Portion 45 of Kraalkop 147 IQ
- Porton 46 of Kraalkop 147 IQ
- Portion 68 of Kraalkop 147 IQ
- Portion 11 of Leeuwpoort 356 IQ
- Portion 77 of Leeuwpoort 356 IQ

Province(s): Gauteng