NOTIFICATION OF APPLICATION FOR A PROTECTED TREE, FLORA AND FAUNA PERMIT AND FINALISATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (EMPr) FOR THE PROPOSED KATHU SOLAR PV AUGMENTATION FACILITY ON THE FARM KATHU NO. 465, WITHIN THE GAMAGARA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE
Zutari (Pty) Ltd (Zutari) hereby gives notice in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014, under the National Environmental
Management Act (No.107 of 1998) (“NEMA”), that the Kathu Solar Park (RF) Pty Ltd (KSP) is applying for the following for the proposed project:
- Finalisation of the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) submitted as part of the Basic Assessment (BA) process that was authorised on the 3 September 2024, to satisfy Condition 15 of the Environmental Auhorisation.
- Permits for removal of protected trees, flora and fauna in terms of the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No. 94 of 1998) (“NFA”) and other relevant provincial nature conservation legislation.
The application under the NFA [to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Forestry Division] is for the removal of 347 identified protected trees Boscia albitrunca (Shepherd Trees) and Vachellia erioloba (Camel Thorns) within the authorised project footprint. The Integrated Permit Application (IPA) to the Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation (NCDENC)] is for the removal of the following protected species: Aloe grandidentata, Dipcadi sp. Lampranthus stipulaceus, Sansevieria sp. Stapelia sp. Boscia albitrunca, Glaucidum perlatum, Plocepasser mahali and Motacilla capensis within the authorised project footprint.
Map 1 – Kathu Solar Park
PROJECT BACKGROUND
On 17 April 2025 to 23 May 2025 the following KSP applications were made available for public comment:
1. Amendment of Condition 16.1 of the Environmental Authorisation (EA) (Reference:14/12/16/3/3/1/2985), granted on 3 September 2024.
2. Finalisation of the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) submitted as part of the Basic Assessment (BA) process that was authorised on the same date, to satisfy Condition 15 of the EA.
3. Permits for removal of protected trees in terms of the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No. 94 of 1998) (“NFA”).
However, the DFFE advised that the EMPr can only legally be finalised following the decision on the EA amendment, which was received on 28 May 2025. As such, the EMPr finalisation application had to be withdrawn. Now that the EA amendment decision has been finalised, the EMPr is available once again for a new round of public participation. Additionally, as a result of the inclusion of a permit for the removal of protected flora and fauna, the application for the removal permit is being made available for public comment in accordance with legal requirements.
LOCATION
The Kathu SPA facility is proposed to be located approximately 7 km northwest of Kathu on the farm Kathu 465, within the Gamagara Local Municipality in the Northern Cape Province (Figure 1). To the north of the property is the T25 gravel road connecting the National Road, N14, with Sesheng in the north. The site is bordered by the Oupos farm to the northeast, the existing Concentrated Solar Photovoltaic (CSP) plant to the west, the Kalahari Golf & Jag development to the south, and the Sishen airfield to the southwest.
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE
For more information, to register as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) or to submit comments, please contact us via email, phone (+27 12 427 2072) or post at: PO Box 74381 Lynnwood Ridge 0040 South Africa PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Thursday, 26 JUNE 2025 TO MONDAY, 28 JULY 2025.REGISTRATION AND COMMENTS:
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