SOLA- Naos Access Road and 132 kV Overhead Powerline Infrastructure Project, Free State

Notice is hereby given in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (Government Notice Regulations (GNR) 982), 2014 (as amended), that Naos Solar PV Project One (RF) Pty Ltd is proposing to undertake a Basic Assessment (BA) process for a new access road and up to 132 kV Overhead Powerline (OHL) corridor (the Project) located approximately 20 km north of the town of Viljoenskroon in wards 21 and 22 of the Moqhaka Local Municipality, Fezile Dabi District Municipality, Free State Province.

The proposed access road will be up to 4.5 km in length, up to 12 m wide and will be gravel surfaced. Five OHL corridors are proposed, with OHL Corridor 3 being the preferred corridor. All proposed OHL corridors have a 200 m corridor of assessment and will be evaluated during the BA process, although only one OHL corridor will be approved. The OHL will have a 32 m construction and operational servitude that will include service road (8 m wide gravel). The Project will service the authorised Naos Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Projects, which include Naos Solar PV Project One (Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Ref: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2698/AM1), Naos Solar PV Project Two (DFFE Ref: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2705/AM2), and Naos Solar PV Project Three (DFFE Ref: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2707/AM1).

SLR Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (SLR) has been appointed by SOLA Assets (Pty) Ltd, on behalf of the Applicant (Naos PV Project One (RF) Pty Ltd), as the Independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake the required BA process and manage the Public Participation Process for the Project in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2014 (as amended).

The BA Report is available for a 30-day review and comment period, from 23 April 2025 – 26 May 2025, to provide I&APs with an opportunity to comment on any aspect of the Project and the findings of the process to date.

Comments should be forwarded to SLR at the address, telephone or email address shown below. For comments to be included in the Final BA Report prepared for decision-making, comments should reach SLR no later than 26 May 2025.

Status

Draft Basic Assessment Report for review and comment