FA804300
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AMENDMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORIZATION IN TERMS OF REGULATIONS 32 AND 33 OF THE EIA REGULATIONS, 2014, AS AMENDED, IN TERMS OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT, 1998 (ACT NO. 107 OF 1998), NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT: RIETFONTEIN SOLAR (PTY) LTD is applying for amendment of the Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the establishment of a 32 MW renewable energy generation facility (PV Power Plant) with associated infrastructure and structures on portion 229 of the farm RIETFONTEIN 128 IR, City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province. The EA was issued dated 31 July 2024 with Reference Number: GAUT002/23-24/E3754. The renewable energy generation facility will be a Photovoltaic (PV) facility with a maximum generation capacity of 32 MW. This will include a 32 MW / 150 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on 1 hectare (ha). The name of the facility will be RIETFONTEIN VC SOLAR PV FACILITY. Due to new project developments application is now made to: `Update Holder of the EA: From Verref Capital (Pty) Ltd to Rietfontein Solar (Pty) Ltd `Change in the site layout plan with the addition of an access right of way servitude within the approved development footprint.
•Change in site layout plan with reference to the specific localities of on-site infrastructure within the approved development footprint. `Eskom Loop-in Loop-out connection station which forms part of the Eskom grid connection infrastructure that was specified by Eskom. This will be located within the servitude area of the new powerline that is described and assessed in this amendment application. `A second option grid connection for a municipal grid connection entailing a new underground powerline route (11kV and 2.6 km), which runs from the development site to the Ekurhuleni Monareng substation. The Rietfontein VC Solar PV Facility has already been approved, though the amendments being applied for are considered substantive and therefore a Part 2 EA Amendment application process is required. As none of the amendments trigger any listed activities in the EIA Regulations, 2014, as amended, only application for an amendment of the EA is required. This process is being undertaken by AGES Limpopo (Pty) Ltd, to determine whether the proposed changes will result in any significant environmental impacts. A Draft Report providing more information can be requested from the AGES Limpopo office. Kindly submit, in writing, all comments, within 30 days of publication of this notice (timeframe for comments: 20 March 2025
•25 April 2025), to the EAP using the following contact details and address: Ms. Linky Wendel, AGES Limpopo (Pty) Ltd, 120 Marshall Street, Polokwane 0699 P.O. Box 2526, Polokwane, 0700. Tel: +27 (0) 15 291 1577 Email: lwendel@ages-group.com
Reference Number:
