The importance of projects associated with electrical grid infrastructure and its contribution to achieving the strategic integrated project objectives.

(Virtual Showroom): Inadequate electricity supply infrastructure for service delivery, a lack of maintenance of infrastructure and a rapid increase in unemployment leading to large gaps in poverty and inequality in our rainbow nation, South Africa (SA). To contribute to sustainable development and address SA's dire energy crisis, a greater preference for "clean green" energy is becoming more apparent.

This article is written with reference to Government Notice (GN) 2313 in Government Gazette (GG) 47095 on 27 July 2022 and the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, as amended. (NEMA): Adoption of the Standard for the Development and Expansion of Power Lines and Substations within Identified Geographical Areas and the Exclusion of this Infrastructure from the Requirement to obtain an Environmental Authorisation.

The Standard applies to the development and expansion of power lines and substations within identified geographical areas.

In 2012, the SA Cabinet adopted the National Infrastructure Plans to expedite infrastructure development to address the issue of service delivery backlog and augment economic growth and unemployment, specifically the Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP) 10: Electricity Transmission and distribution for all.

The article provides a summary of the exclusion of certain Listed Activities in terms of the NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, as amended in 2017, from the need to obtain an Environmental Authorisation (EA) prior to commencement of an activity that is associated with the construction of Electrical Grid Infrastructure (EGI) given the strategic value of EGI in contributing to achieving the goals as set out in the SIP10.

The following exclusions apply to exemption from applying for an EA:

• Where any part of the infrastructure occurs on an area for which the environmental sensitivity for any environmental theme is identified as being very high or high by the national web based environmental screening tool and confirmed to be such through the application of the procedures set out in the Standard;
• Where the site sensitivity verification for a specific theme identifies that the low or medium sensitivity rating of the national web based environmental screening tool is in fact high or very high; and
• Where the greater part of the proposed infrastructure falls outside any strategic transmission corridor. Refer to Figure 1: Electrical Grid Infrastructure Corridors.

In terms of legal compliance with the provisions of the Standard, and the registration requirements contained in Chapter 1 and 2 of the Standard, the activities as described in paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 of the Schedule are hereby excluded from the requirement to obtain an EA in terms of section 24(2)(d) of the NEMA.

The following NEMA), EIA Regulations, as amended in 2017, Listed Activities have been exempted:

Listing Notice 1 (GN R327):

Activity 11: The development of facilities or infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of electricity.

Activity 47: The expansion of facilities or infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of electricity where the expanded capacity will exceed 275 kilovolts and the development footprint will increase.

Listing Notice 2 (GN R325):

Activity 9: The development of facilities or infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of electricity with a capacity of 275 kilovolts or more, outside an urban area or industrial complex excluding the development of bypass infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of electricity where such bypass infrastructure is:

(a) temporarily required to allow for maintenance of existing infrastructure;

(b) 2 kilometres or shorter in length;

(c) within an existing transmission line servitude; and

(d) will be removed within 18 months of the commencement of development.

Note: Any other listed or specified activity in Listing Notice 1 (GN R327), 2 (GN R325) or 3 (GN R324), as per the NEMA EIA Regulations, as amended in 2017, that is necessary for such infrastructure to be implemented.

The purpose of the standard is to provide requirements for activities that are excluded from applying for an EA and to provide the requirements to be adhered to. However, it is integral to note that the excluded activities must be in an area that is identified in the environmental screening tool to have a medium to low environmental sensitivity according to the identified environmental themes, located within the strategic transmission corridors, for the development or expansion of electricity transmission and distribution power line infrastructure, and triggers the relevant listed activities mentioned.

As part of Environmental Assurance (Pty) Ltd (ENVASS) professional team, registered Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs) can offer environmental services pertaining to environmental sensitivity screening of power supply associated projects to determine compliance and to comply with the Standard for the Development and Expansion of Power Lines and substations within identified Geographical Areas Revision 2 (June 2022).