Part 1 Amendment Application: Amendment to the 33 kV Overhead Powerline Layout for the Karreebosch Wind Energy Facility

Karreebosch Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd is constructing the Karreebosch Wind Energy Facility (WEF) and associated infrastructure between Matjiesfontein and Sutherland, within the Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The project comprises wind energy generation infrastructure, including turbines, access roads, and associated electrical infrastructure such as the 33 kV overhead powerline (OHL).

Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the Karreebosch WEF was granted on 29 January 2016 (DFFE Reference: 14/12/16/3/3/2/807), with several subsequent amendments issued, including approval of the final layout and Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) in December 2022. Construction of the authorised facility commenced within the validity period of the EA and is currently underway.

Karreebosch Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd is applying for a Part 1 Amendment in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014 (as amended), to amend a portion of the approved 33 kV overhead powerline layout. The amendment entails the re-routing of approximately 1.8 km of the 33 kV OHL by approximately 120 m to the east of the approved alignment. This change is required due to engineering considerations, specifically the identification of the originally approved alignment within the 1:100-year floodline, as well as landowner preferences.

The proposed amendment falls within the ambit of a Part 1 Amendment, as it does not change the scope of the authorised development nor increase the level or nature of impacts previously assessed. Specialist inputs have confirmed that the proposed re-routing remains within the assessed corridor and will not result in any additional environmental impacts. In fact, the revised alignment may reduce potential impacts on the freshwater environment by avoiding the floodline.

SLR Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (SLR) has been appointed by Karreebosch Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd to undertake the amendment application process in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) (as amended). This amendment application is being compiled in accordance with the EIA Regulations, 2014 (as amended), and includes a motivation for the proposed layout change, supported by specialist input and a public participation process as required by the competent authority.

Status

Notice is hereby given that the Public Participation Process (PPP) has commenced for the above-mentioned project. The Motivation Report, together with the associated specialist opinion letters, is available for public review and comment from 29 May 2026 to 29 June 2026.

Should you and/or your organisation wish to comment on any aspect of the project, please submit your comments to SLR at the email address and telephone number provided 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.