Notification Letter to Organs of State

From the desk of Gabriele Wood
E-mail: [email protected]
_____________________________________
25 February 2015
Dear Stakeholder
PROPOSED LINED WASTEWATER DAM, PIPELINE AND PUMP STATION FOR MKUZE
BIOMASS POWER PLANT, NEAR MKUZE,
KWAZULU-NATAL
NOTIFICATION OF BASIC ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Navosync (Pty) Ltd, an Independent Power Producer (IPP), is proposing the establishment
of a wastewater dam and associated discharge water pipeline infrastructure as well as a
pump station as essential infrastructure required for the operation of the authorised Mkuze
Biomass Central Power Plant. Contemplating the above activities requires an application
for Environmental Authorisation and a Waste Management License through an integrated
application.
The site where the above-mentioned infrastructure is proposed to be located is
approximately 2.5 km south west of Mkuze on the Farm Alkmaar 13434 and the farm
Clerkness, in KwaZulu-Natal.
The proposed infrastructure is essential infrastructure
required for the operation of the authorised Mkuze Biomass Central Power Station, which
was authorised by the Department of Environmental Affairs and obtained Preferred Bidder
status in the Department of Energy’s (DoE) Renewable Energy Independent Power
Producer Procurement (REIPPP) Programme (Round 3). Construction of the power plant is
scheduled to commence in the second half of 2015.
The following essential water-related infrastructure is required in order to ensure the
successful operation of the Mkuze Biomass Power Station:
1. A pump station located adjacent to the existing abstraction infrastructure at the
Clerkness Dam in order to pump raw water from the existing abstraction pipeline for
supply to the biomass plant.
2. An inlet water pipeline from the pump station at Clerkness Dam to the biomass power
plant (already authorised as part of the biomass power station).
3. A wastewater discharge outlet pipeline between the power plant and a new proposed
wastewater dam located west of the biomass power plant.
4. A lined wastewater dam located west of the biomass power plant.
ENVIRONMENTAL BASIC ASSESSMENT PROCESS
In terms of sections 19(1) and 20(b) of the National Environmental Management: Waste
Act (NEMWA), 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), read in conjunction with NEMWA Government
Notice 921 of 29 November 2013, and in terms of sections 24 and 24D of the National
Environmental Management Act (No 107 of 1998), as read with the EIA Regulations of
GNR982 to GNR985, a Basic Assessment process is required to be undertaken for the
proposed project.
Navosync (Pty) Ltd has appointed Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd, as the
independent environmental consultant, to undertake the required Basic Assessment to
identify and assess all the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed
project,
and
propose
appropriate
mitigation
Environmental Management Programme (EMPr).
and
management
measures
in
an
The public participation process, which
forms part of the overall Basic Assessment process, will be undertaken by Savannah
Environmental (Pty) Ltd.
The department which you represent has been identified as a commenting authority for the
proposed project.
In this regard, please can you provide us with the name and
contact details of the relevant contact person at your department who we would
liaise with regarding this project.
By registering on the project database, you will
receive all information relating to the project and will be provided with an opportunity to
provide comment and input into the Basic Assessment process.
DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
In accordance with the EIA Regulations, a Draft Basic Assessment Report will be available
for public review and comment by I&APs and stakeholders. You will be informed of the 30day public review period in due course. You are invited to submit your written comment
on the project to the undersigned.
All comments received will be submitted in the final
Basic Assessment Report which will be submitted to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of
Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. Comments must be made as
a written submission via fax, post or email.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require additional information and/or
clarification regarding the proposed project.
Our team welcomes your participation and
looks forward to your involvement throughout this process.
Kind Regards
MRS GABRIELE WOOD
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL CONSULTANT
SAVANNAH ENVIRONMENTAL
(not signed, sent via email)