Bonsmara Solar PV (RF) (Pty) Ltd - Bonsmara Solar PV Facility, near Kroonstad in the Free State Province

Bonsmara Solar PV (RF) (Pty) Ltd, is proposing to construct the Bonsmara Solar Energy Facility (SEF) and associated infrastructure of up to 100 megawatts (MW) 12 km south-east of Kroonstad in the Moqhaka Local Municipality and Fezile Dabi District, within the Free State Province of South Africa.

Environmental authorisation (EA) for the Solar PV was granted in December 2023 (DFFE Reference: 14/12/16/3/3/2/2228) and the grid in 2023 (Department of Economic, Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) EMB11(i), 12(ii)(a)(c), 19, 24(ii), 27, 28(ii), 48(i)(a)(c)t 56(ii), 4b(i)(bb)(gg), 12b(iv), 14(ii)(a)(c)(b)(i)(bb)(ff)(hh), 18b(i)(bb)(gg)(hh), 23(ii)(a)(c)b.(i)(bb)(gg)/23/18). Conditions 12 and 13 of the Solar PV EA stipulated that the final site layout plan and Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) were not yet approved and were subject to a micro siting exercise by certain specialists and a further round of public participation before submission to the DFFE for approval:

• Condition 12: A copy of the final site layout map must be made available for comments by registered Interested and Affected Parties and the holder of this environmental authorisation must consider such comments. Once amended, the final development layout map must be submitted to the Department for written approval prior to commencement of the activity. All available biodiversity information must be used in the finalisation of the layout map. Existing infrastructure must be used as far as possible e.g. roads. The final layout map must indicate the following:
  • 12.1. The position of the solar PV panels;
  • 12.2. All associated infrastructure;
  • 12.3. The finalised access routes;
  • 12.4. All sensitive features; and
  • 12.5. All “no-go” and buffer areas.
• Condition 13: The Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) submitted as part of the ElAr is not approved and must be amended to include measures as dictated by the final site lay-out map and micro-siting, and the provisions of this environmental authorisation. The EMPr must be made available for comments by registered Interested and Affected Parties and the holder of this environmental authorisation must consider such comments. Once amended, the final EMPr must be submitted to the Department for written approval prior to commencement of the activity. Once approved the EMPr must be implemented and adhered to.

Although the grid EA is approved, the generic EMPrs require amendment to update the layout maps and specific mitigation measures based on specialist interventions and to update specific conditions listed in the EA.

SLR Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (SLR) has been appointed by Bonsmara Solar PV (RF) (Pty) Ltd to undertake the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) and site layout finalisations for the Bonsmara Solar PV Project in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, (NEMA), 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) (as amended). The compilation of this EMPr forms part of the requirements of the EIA Regulations, 2014 (as amended).

Status

Notice is hereby given that the Final EMPr for the above-mentioned project has been made available for public review and comment.

Should you and/or organisation wish to comment on any aspect of the project, comments should be forwarded to SLR at the email address and telephone number shown above.

By providing your personal information to submit a comment, you will be included in the SLR an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) database, and you consent to SLR managing your information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013. It is assumed that as an I&AP for this Project you authorise SLR to retain and use your Personal Information as part of a contact database for this and/or other Social and Environmental Impact Assessments (ESIA) and that you confirm your acceptance for SLR to contact you regarding this and/or other ESIA processes. SLR will not process your Personal Information, other than as permitted or required by ESIA processes, or as required by law or public policy. SLR will use reasonable, appropriate security safeguards to protect Personal Information, and to reasonably prevent any damage to, loss of, or unauthorised access or disclosure of Personal Information, other than as required for ESIA processes or as required by any Law or public policy. You may request for your Personal Information to be deleted from the I&AP database at any time by contacting SLR.