HIA for the Proposed Red Sands Main Transmission Substation (MTS), Z.F. Mgcawu District Municipality, Northern Cape Province

AGV Projects (Pty) Ltd (AGV) is developing the Red Sands Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility with a
contracted capacity of 153 MW. Grid infrastructure will connect the BESS facility to the proposed 400 / 132 kV
MTS. The BESS and associated grid connection infrastructure was awarded Preferred Bidder status in the first
bid submission phase of South Africa’s Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement
Programme and Strategic Integrated Project status in terms of the Infrastructure Development Act No. 23 of
2014 (IDA). The BESS facility is located on the Remainder of Portion 19 of Farm Rooisand 387. The proposed
BESS facility will have a contracted capacity of 153 megawatt and is accessible via existing gravel roads from the
N8. The proposed Red Sands Photovoltaic (PV3) facility and associated infrastructure (including the BESS) was
granted EA by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on 11 August 2022 (DFFE
Reference: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2514) and amended on 05 May 2023 (DFFE Reference:
14/12/16/3/3/1/2514/AM1),1 July 2024 (DFFE Reference: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2514/AM2), 2 September 2024
(DFFE Ref: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2514/AM3) and 16 September 2024 (DFFE Ref: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2514/AM4),
respectively.
The MTS will consist of a permanent hardstand area of approximately 10 hectares (ha) within a yard of up to 20
ha to accommodate multiple 132 kV and 400 kV feeder bays. The MTS will include standard substation
infrastructure: 132 kV and 400 kV busbars, feeder and transformer bays, and a 500 MVA 400/132 kV
transformer.
Province(s): Northern Cape