NOTICE OF REVIEW OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME
Authorised Emkhiweni-Silimela 400kV Powerline, within the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, as well as the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality, Sekhukhune District Municipality, Limpopo Province (14/12/16/3/3/2/1137)
Dear Sir/Madam
Notice is hereby given in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations of 2014, as amended, in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA).
BACKGROUND:
The current transmission subsystems in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces are experiencing several problems. Eskom thus proposed the development of the new Emkhiweni Substation and the 400kV Line from the Emkhiweni Substation to the Silimela Substation to strengthen the grid in these provinces. These developments will improve the network security and create capacity for future load increases. The former Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), now known as Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), granted Environmental Authorisation for these developments on 11 February 2020 (reference number: 14/12/16/3/3/2/1137).
Condition 12 of the Environmental Authorisation stipulated the following: “The Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) submitted as part of the Application for Environmental Authorisation is not approved. The EMPr must be amended to include final layout map of the pylon positions and submitted to the Department for written approval prior to commencement of the activity. Once approved, the EMPr must be implemented and adhered to.” Furthermore, condition 30 of the Environmental Authorisation stipulated that prior to construction a final walkthrough should be undertaken of the final pylon positions by an independent ecologist, and the results be attached to the final EMPr and submitted to the Department. Lastly, condition 31 of the Environmental Authorisation requested a final Conservation Management Plan inclusive of a Plant Rescue and Protection Plan to be compiled and reflected in the final EMPr and submitted to the Department of approval.
Accordingly, an EMPr was developed to address the abovementioned conditions 12, 30 and 31 of the Environmental Authorisation (14/12/16/3/3/2/1137).
REVIEW OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME:
The draft EMPr has been lodged for review by Interested and Affected Parties. The review period is from 21 October until 20 November 2024. The draft EMPr can be accessed via the following website: https://nemai.co.za/downloads/.
Written comments on the draft EMPr need to be forwarded to the contact person below by 20 November 2024.
You are welcome to contact me for any queries.
Regards
Donavan Henning
Nemai Consulting
Tel : +27 11 781 1730
Fax : +27 11 781 1731
Mobile : +27 82 891 0604
Email : donavanh@nemai.co.za
Address : 147 Bram Fischer Drive Ferndale, 2194, South Africa
Postal Address : PO Box 1673, Sunninghill, 2157