PHATSIMA PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SOLAR PROJECT

Northam Platinum Limited (“Northam”) owns and operates the Zondereinde Mine comprising of the Main Shaft, Smelter and 3 Shaft complexes (hereinafter referred to as “Zondereinde”). Zondereinde currently comprises of underground mining, mineral processing and various surface infrastructure. The mine is located approximately 35km south of Thabazimbi and 18km northwest of the town of Northam along the R510.

In 2023 an Environmental Authorisation (EA) Application was approved for the construction of the Zondereinde PV Facility and associated infrastructure (LEDET Ref No: 12/1/9/2-W99) (now on referred to as “Phase 1”). The Phase 1 project comprises of a 100 Megawatt Alternating Current (MWAC) Solar PV facility and associated infrastructure, which included a power line connecting the PV Facility to existing substations at the Zondereinde Mine. The Phase 1 Project is located directly South of the Zondereinde Mine. The Phase 1 facility is currently under construction.

As part of the next Phase, the applicant is proposing to expand the existing approved 100 MWAC Zondereinde Solar PV Facility (Phase 1) by adding an additional 160MWAC Solar PV facility, 260MWhAC Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated infrastructure. Phase 2, to be known as the Phatsima PV Solar Project, will be located directly South of the Phase 1 project.

The Phatsima PV Solar project will comprise of 160MWAC Solar PV facility, 260MWhAC Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated infrastructure. The associated infrastructure will comprise of
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS):
o Batteries;
o Cables;
o Inverters and transformers, all situated in climate-controlled containers.
• Grid connection infrastructure:
o Up to 132kV on-site substation (Site Substation);
o Low voltage above ground/underground cabling from the solar PV arrays to the BESS, customer substation and the Site Substation;
o Up to 132kV Overhead Power Lines (OHL) and transmission towers that will transmit energy from the Main Solar PV Site Substation to the 3 Shaft Complex, Main Shaft Mining Complex and Smelter/BMR Complex.
• Operational support infrastructure:
o Buildings / offices for operations, maintenance, control, and storage;
o Water and sewerage infrastructure (conservancy tanks); and
o Parking area.
• Temporary infrastructure during the Construction Phase:
o Laydown area;
o Site offices; and
o Construction yard.
• Access and security infrastructure:
o Access / internal gravel roads;
o Security, access control structure and fencing; and
o Telecommunications.

The existing approved Zondereinde PV Project is located on the Remainder of Portion 1 of the Farm Kopje Alleen 422 KQ (Phase 1 site). The Phase 2 Project (“Phatsima PV”) is located to the south of the larger Zondereinde Mining Right Area with the Overhead Lines traversing the Mining Right Area. The main Phatsima PV infrastructure will be located on the Remainder of Portion 1 of the Farm Kopje Alleen 422 KQ (Phatsima PV Site) and the associated Overhead lines and grid connection will traverse on the aforesaid property and Remainder of Portion 2 of the Farm Zondereinde 384 KQ, Remaining Extent of Farm Zondereinde 384 KQ and Remaining Extent (Portion 3) of the Farm Elandsfontein 386 KQ. The abovementioned properties are owned by Northam Platinum Limited.
The Phatsima PV Project is located approximately 18 km Northeast of the town of Northam and 25km Southwest of the Town of Thabazimbi. The Phatsima PV Project falls within the jurisdiction of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality, located within the larger Waterberg District Municipality in the Limpopo Province.

The combined footprint of the proposed Phatsima PV Project including the associated Overhead (OHD) Powerlines, will be approximately 300 Hectares (Ha).


Province(s): Limpopo