EA AMENDMENT FOR KAROSHOEK GRID INTEGRATION INFRASTRUCTURE, NORTHERN CAPE

FG Emvelo (Pty) Ltd is proposing to amend the Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the Karoshoek Grid Integration Infrastructure i.e. on-site substation/switching yard and 400kV powerline from site 1.4, 3, 4, and 5 to the feature Eskom MTS 400kV power line proposed to the west of the site, as part of the larger Karoshoek Solar Valley Development, 30km east of Upington, within the Khara Hais Local Municipality in the Northern Cape Province, by extending the EA validity by an additional ten (10) years. Extension of the validity of the
EA will ensure that the EA remains valid for the undertaking of the authorised activities.


Condition 6 of the EA states that the activity must commence within a period of three (3) years from the date of issue. The Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the project was issued on 20 March 2013. The validity of the EA was extended for an additional two years on 11 November 2015 (DEA Ref: 14/12/16/3/3/2/288/AM1) and by an additional 5 years on 11 April 2018 will lapse on 20 March 2023. FG Emvelo requests an extension of the validity of the EA by an additional ten years. Condition 6 of the EA is requested to be amended from:
“This activity must commence within a period of three (3) years from the date of issue”
To:
“This activity must commence within a period of twenty (20) years from the date of issue”.


The Karoshoek Solar Valley projects will form part of the proposed Upilanga Solar and Green Hydrogen Park development, located at Karoshoek, Upington, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Upilanga Solar and Green Hydrogen Park falls under the Green Hydrogen National Program Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP) No. 20e, which was gazetted by the Honourable Minister Patricia De Lille in Government Gazette 437658 on 6 December 2022. Therefore, the applicant is requesting that the validity of the EA be extended. This will ensure that the EA remains valid for the undertaking of the authorised activities such that the project can be incorporated into this SIP registered project.