The Proposed Mokolobane Grid Connection Infrastructure near Excelsior, Free State Province

Mokolobane Solar (Pty) Ltd, proposes the development of the Electricity Grid Infrastructure (EGI) project. The project will entail a grid substation with a capacity of 33 kV / 132 kV and a proposed 132 kV overhead power line which is intended to feed the excess energy generated by the proposed 1 GW Mokolobane PV SEF project (assessed as a part of a separate Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process) directly to the existing Eskom Merapi Substation. A 400 m wide grid corridor has been identified for assessment for the placement of the power line infrastructure. The proposed EGI is located north of Excelsior in the Mantsopa Local Municipality, Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality, Free State Province. The length of the grid corridor is up to 16 km and traverses several properties.

The proposed Mokolobane EGI will include the following infrastructure:
• On-site grid substation up to 33 kV/132 kV (located back-to-back with the IPP substation assessed separately).
• A single or double circuit up to 132 kV overhead power line to connect the Mokolobane PV SEF project (assessed separately) directly to the existing Eskom Merapi Substation. A 400 m wide grid corridor has been identified for assessment for the placement of the power line infrastructure.
• An existing or a new service / access road is also required along the length of the proposed power line which will be located within the assessed corridor. The access road will be used as the servitude road by Eskom for maintenance of the power line once handed over. Access to the grid substation will be via the internal access roads as approved with the Mokolobane PV SEF project (assessed separately). Where possible, existing roads will be utilised with new service/access roads developed where there are no existing roads to be utilised.


Province(s): Free State