Longyuan Mulilo De Aar Maanhaarberg Wind Energy Facility Near De Aar, Northern Cape Province

LONGYUAN MULILO DE AAR MAANHAARBERG WIND ENERGY FACILITY NEAR DE AAR, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE: NOTIFICATION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME AND LAYOUT PLAN & OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT

(DEA REFERENCE NUMBER: 12/12/20/1651; DENC REF. NC/BA/05/PIX/EMT/DEA2/2014)

Longyuan Mulilo De Aar Wind Power (RF) (Pty) Ltd propose to amend the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) and Layout Plan for the Wind Energy Facility (WEF) near De Aar, in the Northern Cape Province, in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2014), as amended. The WEF is located on Remainder of the Farm Smouspoort (No. 130) and Remainder Portion 2 of the Farm Zwartekopjes (No. 131), near De Aar.

Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the WEF and its associated infrastructure was granted by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on 15 August 2011. Layout Alternative 1, as described in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) dated 2010, was authorised by DEA in terms of the 2006 EIA Regulations, and includes 67 Wind Turbine Generators with a generation capacity of 1.5MW per turbine, resulting in an optimal generation capacity of 100MW per annum, as well as associated infrastructure. Furthermore, the Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation (DENC) granted authorisation for additional EIA listed activities for the WEF on 31 July 2014. The EMPr (May 2015) and Layout Plan dated May 2015 were approved by DEA on 3 August 2015. Construction of the WEF commenced in October 2015 and was completed in 31 October 2017. The WEF has been operational since November 2017.

Longyuan Mulilo De Aar Wind Power (RF) (Pty) Ltd wishes to update the approved EMPr and Final Layout Plan, to address refinements to the Final Layout Plan made during the construction phase, to remove reference to the 132kV transmission line (given that it is subject to a separate Environmental Authorisation with its own conditions of authorisation and EMPr), amongst others.

The draft amended EMPr and “As Built” Layout Plan are available for I&AP comment in terms of Regulation 37 of the EIA Regulations, 2014, as amended. In this regard, the draft amended EMPr and “As Built” Layout Plan are available for a 30-day comment period, i.e. from 28 February 2020 – 30 March 2020. A copy of the draft amended EMPr, which includes the “As Built” Layout Plan, is downloadable via the link below.

Should you have any comments regarding the proposed amendments, please submit your comments to the holder of the Environmental Authorisation (i.e. Longyuan Mulilo De Aar Wind Power (RF) (Pty) Ltd) c/o Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants within 30 days of the invitation to comment in terms of Regulation 37 of the EIA Regulations, 2014, as amended, i.e. by 30 March 2020. Comments are to be submitted in writing via post, e-mail or fax to:

Longyuan Mulilo De Aar Wind Power (RF) (Pty) Ltd.

c/o Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants

For attention: Mrs Nicole Holland

Post: P.O. Box 31108, Tokai, 7966;

Fax: 086 762 6126, or

email: nicole@hollandandassociates.net

Once the 30 day I&AP comment period closes, issues raised and comments received from I&APs will be addressed where applicable in the final amended EMPr and will be included in the submission of the final amended EMPr and “As Built” Layout Plan to DEA.