KHAUTA SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) CLUSTER OF ENERGY FACILITIES & ASSOCIATED GRID CONNECTION INFRASTRUCTURE NEAR WELKOM, MATJHABENG LOCAL MUNICIPALITY IN THE FREE STATE PROVINCE

Khauta South Solar PV Facility (RF) (Pty) Ltd has appointed Nala Environmental (Pty) Ltd to undertake a Registration process in terms of GNR 2313 for the Eskom Masimong Switching Substation for the authorised Khauta Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Cluster of Energy Facilities & Associated Grid Connection Infrastructure near Welkom, Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State Province.

The Khauta Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Cluster (“Khauta Cluster”) consists of the 165 MW Khauta North Solar PV Facility (DFFE Ref.: 14/12/16/3/3/2/2221), 110 MW Khauta South Solar PV Facility (DFFE Ref.: 14/12/16/3/3/2/2220), 80 MW Khauta West Solar PV Facility (DFFE Ref.: 14/12/16/3/3/2/2219), 50 MW Khauta eNyane Solar PV Facility (DFFE Ref.: 14/12/16/3/3/2/2218). The electricity will be evacuated from the cluster via the authorised 132 kV Overhead Powerline (OHL) (DFFE Ref.: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2834) that will connect to the Leander Main Transmission Substation.

In order to successfully evacuate the electricity generated from the Khauta Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Cluster into the National Grid, a new on-site 132 kV Eskom Switching Station referred to as the “Masimong” switching station is proposed for the development and is to be located within the authorised Khauta North Solar PV Facility (Khauta North SEF) development area.

The Final Layouts for the Khauta Cluster were approved by the DFFE in June 2023 and in February 2024 for the Powerline. Subsequently the Applicant has further optimised the layouts to minimise the impacts on sensitive areas and decrease the overall SEFs footprints. The proposed layout optimisation will be achieved through the removal and re-positioning of some infrastructural components that were authorised as part of the development footprint and an addition of the Masimong Switching Station. The optimisation of the authorised layouts will be undertaken via separate Part 1 Amendment Applications. The focus of this Registration process is the addition of the 132kV Masimong Switching Substation.

The proposed site is located approximately 4 km North East of Riebeeckstand within the Matjhabeng Local Municipality. The SEF is NOT located in the Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZ), however, the proposed Masimong Switching Station substation is located within the Central Strategic Transmission Corridor. The proposed Masimong Switching Station will be located within the authorised footprint of the Khauta North Solar PV Facility, adjacent to the authorised IPP Substation. A registration process in accordance with GNR 2313 will be undertaken. According to GNR 2313, areas identified by the DFFE's national web-based environmental screening tool as having medium or low environmental sensitivity, and confirmed as such for identified environmental themes within the strategic transmission corridors, require various on-site specialist verifications. These verifications are necessary to verify the environmental sensitivity of the proposed Masimong Switching Station site.

Province(s): Free State