Notification of Submission of the Final Basic Assessment Report
Project Name: The Proposed Paulputs South Wind Energy Facility On-site Substation, Battery Energy Storage System and Associated Infrastructure, Northern Cape Province.
DFFE Reference Number: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2417
Project Description: Paulputs South (the Applicant) is applying for Environmental Authorisation for the construction and operation of the proposed On-site substation and Battery Energy Storage System for the Proposed Paulputs South WEF (hereon referred to as the ‘proposed development’). The preferred site layout and technical specifications of this proposed development were assessed by specialists in an application process undertaken by Arcus Consultancy Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd (‘Arcus’) in 2019 (DFFE Reference 14/12/16/3/3/2/1120); and reassessed during this application process.
Paulputs Wind Energy Facility (RF) (Pty) Ltd has given permission to Paulputs Wind Energy Facility South (RF) (Pty) Ltd to submit an application for the proposed development. As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Arcus, 2019), three alternative on-site substation options (A, B and C) were assessed. The Competent Authority (CA), DFFE, chose to only issue a favourable authorisation for the preferred OHPL option ‘C’ and on-site substation option ‘A’. To comply with the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) bidding requirements, the abovementioned 300 MW Paulputs WEF is being split into the 150 MW Paulputs South WEF and the 150 MW Paulputs North WEF (separate application processes). The authorised OHPL option ‘C’ and on-site substation option ‘A’ will be used for proposed Paulputs North WEF.
This application process is required to obtain authorisation of the infrastructure required to connect the proposed Paulputs South WEF to the national grid.
The Draft Basic Assessment Report was subjected to the required 30 day public comment and review from Monday, 02 August 2021 to Wednesday, 01 September 2021 (both days inclusive). The Public Participation Process took into consideration Chapter 2 and Chapter 6 (41, 42, 43, and 44) of GN R. 326 of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998) (NEMA) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014 (as amended), promulgated under Section 24 (5) of the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998 – NEMA), as amended. Comments received from the public and organ of states have been incorporated, addressed and responded to in the Final Basic Assessment Report.
Following the 30 day public comment and review period, the Final Basic Assessment Report has been submitted to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (competent authority) for decision, and is available for the public to view via this Arcus website.
Please click on the links below to access the Final Basic Assessment Report (FBAR).
Volume I: Final Basic Assessment Report
01 Volume I FBAR – Paulputs South WEF SS and BESS
02 Volume I Appendix A EAP DoI and CV
03_01 Volume I Appendix B Generic EMPr -PPS WEF SS
03_02 Volume I Appendix B EMPr – PPS WEF BESS
04_01 Volume I Appendix C PP Report
04_02 Appendix C1 I&AP Database_Public
04_03 Appendix C 2 Initial Notification
04_04 Appendix C 3 Stakeholder Correspondence
04_05 Appendix C 4 Proof of Delivery
04_06 Appendix C 5 Comments and Responses
04_07 Appendix C 6 Comments and Responses Table
Volume II: Specialist Assessments and Verifications
Proposed Amendment Specialist Studies
11. CAA and Defence Verification Report
PWEF Approved Specialist Reports:
1 Soil Impact Assessment Report
3 Aquatic Impact Assessment Report
4 Fauna and Flora Impact Assessment
5 Bird Impact Assessment Report
6 Bat Impact Assessment Report
8 Heritage Impact Assessment Report
9 Visual Impact Assessment Report_1of2
9 Visual Impact Assessment Report_2of2
10 Social Impact Assessment Report
11 Traffic Impact Assessment Report
Notification of the EA decision will be distributed to all I&APs upon receipt. With reference to the proposed development, please send any queries to the below address:
Contact: Aneesah Alwie / Ashleigh von der Heyden
Arcus Reference: 3944 Paulputs South WEF SS and BESS Basic Assessment
Post: 240 Main Road, 1st Floor Great Westerford, Rondebosch, 7700
Telephone: +27 21 412 1529
Fax: +27 86 762 2885
