251217006820 - The 50 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant with power line located close to Trekkopje Uranium Mine within the Erongo Region, Namibia.

RENEWAL Renewal application for the 50 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant with power line located close to Trekkopje Uranium Mine within the Erongo Region, Namibia. Listed activities triggered by the Project include: LISTED ACTIVITY EIA SCREENING FINDING ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE ACTIVITIES 4) a) The generation of electricity; and b) Transmission and supply of electricity. • Generation of fifty (50) megawatts (MW) solar power from the solar power plant. • Cabling for powerline is below ground. • Produce electricity for the local communities. The Project capitalises on the abundant solar energy, and this reduces the need to import electricity. WASTE MANAGEMENT, TREATMENT, HANDLING AND DISPOSAL ACTIVITIES (2.3) The import, processing, use and recycling, temporary storage, transit or export of waste. • This Project involves the temporary storage of general and construction waste. General waste will be disposed of at the Arandis landfill, recyclable waste will be transported to Swakopmund and hazardous waste (if applicable) will be disposed of at the Walvis Bay landfill site for appropriate handling. LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES (5.3) Construction of veterinary protected area or game proof and international boundary fences. • A boundary fence is already installed around the existing 9.8 MW (approximately 20 ha) solar plant area and will be extended and constructed around the full 150 ha site upon completion of the 50 MW solar plant, for security purposes and to prevent wildlife from entering the site. HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE TREATMENT, HANDLING AND STORAGE (9.1) The manufacturing, storage, handling or processing of a hazardous substance defined in the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, 1974. (9.2) Any process or activity which requires a permit, licence or other form of authorisation, or the modification of or changes to existing facilities for any process or activity which requires an amendment of an existing permit, licence or authorisation or which requires a new permit, licence or authorisation in terms of a law governing the generation or release of emissions, pollution, effluent or waste. • A septic tank has been installed on-site at the existing solar plant area. • Mobile toilets will be used during the construction phase of the Project. • The mobile toilets and septic tank will be cleaned by Elite services (contractor). FORESTRY ACTIVITIES (4.) The clearance of forest areas, deforestation, aforestation, timber harvesting or any other related activity that requires authorisation in term of the Forest Act, 2001 (Act No. 12 of 2001) or any other law. • Limited vegetation clearing may be required for future operational activities due to sensitive vegetation and lithops species in the area for future construction, as only 9.8 MW (20 hectare (ha) of the 150 ha) has been constructed of the full scope of the Project.   2. Details of the activity(s) covered by the environmental clearance certificate: Title of the activity: A construction and operations of a 50 MW PV solar power plant, with underground power line/cabling, adjacent to the Trekkopje Uranium Mine, Erongo Region, Namibia. Nature of activity: Sorexa Sun Energy (Sorexa or Proponent), a subsidiary of InnoSun Energy Holding Namibia (InnoSun), has finalised the construction of Phase 1 development (i.e. 9.8 megawatt (MW) of a fifty (50) MW photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant, located adjacent to Trekkopje Uranium Mine in the Erongo Region, Namibia (Figure 1). Phase 1 occupies approximately 20 hectares (ha) of the total proposed 150 ha Project footprint, as shown in Figure 2. Photovoltaic modules convert solar irradiance into electricity. The Project is closely located in a sensitive area where lithops can be found, within the =/=Gaingu Conservancy. No new environmental impacts are expected during the operational phase as the infrastructure functions as a passive system. The Proponent does envision to utilise the remainder of the approved site to construct future phases of the PV plant Listed below are the main Project infrastructure components: - Pile foundations; - Solar panels and support structures; - Inverters and step-up transformers; and - 33 kilovolt (kV) underground cable. Scale and scope of activity: - The Project is 150 ha in size; and - The Project involves the operations of a 50 MW PV power plant. The Proponent has completed Phase 1 of the construction phase of the Project and has entered into the operational phase. The new activities include: - Routine cleaning of solar panels; - Water consumption monitoring and record keeping; - Daily/remote monitoring of generation output. - Inverter room inspections and thermal checks. - Power system balancing and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) oversight; - Servicing of inverters, transformers, trackers; - Lubrication of moving parts; - Replacement of faulty modules, fuses, cables or connectors; - 24/7 site monitoring (closed-circuit television (CCTV) and gate control) and night patrols; - Inspection to ensure OEMP compliance; - Recording and reporting incidents; - On-site security services; and - Maintenance and cleaning of septic tanks.

Commenting of the public on this project will expire at 12h00 on the 2026-03-10

Projects Documents

• Scoping Report
• EMP
• Confirmation of screening notice received (through email) in terms of assessment procedures (Section 35 (1)(a)(b) of the Environmental Management Act, No 7 of 2007)
• Preliminary Site Map (Project boundaries) with coordinates (decimal degrees) and a Legend
• CV of Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP)
• Declaration for the Submission of Assessment Reports and other Support Documents (upload Declaration Form from www.eia.meft.gov.na (downloads)

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