Proposed Development of the Matla-Jupiter B Loop IN / Loop OUT (Lilo) into the existing Brenner Substation, Lesokwana Substation and associated Powerlines, located near Boksburg in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Heidelberg in the Sedibeng District Municipality within the Gauteng Province

Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. is proposing the construction of the loop in / loop out (LILO) into the existing Brenner substation, the new Lesokwana substation and associated powerlines, which will be located near Boksburg within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Heidelberg in the Sedibeng District Municipality within Gauteng. CES was appointed by Eskom as an independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake a Detailed Environmental Screening Assessment, including relevant specialist assessments and public participation, to identify a preferred final route for the proposed powerlines and inform the later application for Environmental Authorisation (EA), presumably via a Basic Assessment process. This Screening Process does not exempt Eskom from applying for EA. Rather, the process serves to identify environmental sensitivities and impacts, as well as to gauge public perception regarding the proposed development, prior to initiating the formal EA application process. A formal public participation process will be undertaken as part of the Basic Assessment at a later stage.

The proposed project will be carried out across two phases, namely Phase 2A and Phase 2B, centered on the Brenner and proposed Lesokwana substations, respectively.  

BRENNER STRENGTHENING PHASE 2A: LOOP IN/LOOP OUT (LILO) MATLA – JUPITER B LINE

Phase 2A will involve the development of a loop in / loop out (LILO) line from the proposed Matla – Jupiter B 275kV line, built at 400kV and operating at 275kV, into the existing Brenner substation. The proposed LILO line will be 3.5 km in length and constructed as either single or double circuit. New servitudes will be required for the proposed LILO line.

BRENNER STRENGTHENING PHASE 2B: LESOKWANA MAIN TRANSMISSION SYSTEM (MTS) AND TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION LINES

Phase 2B will involve the development of the new Lesokwana substation at the proposed Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) Uitkyk site, near Heidelberg, as well as a number of transmission (Tx) and distribution (Dx) lines. These will include:

• Loop in/out of the 2 x Matla – Jupiter B 400kV lines into the new Lesokwana substation (2 x Double circuit Tx lines indicated in Red on the map – length 25km);

• Loop in/out of the existing Brenner-Snowdon 275kV Line into Lesokwana substation (1 x double circuit Tx line indicated in Red – length 5km);
• New road planned at loop in section by SANRAL;
• New lines will be called Snowdon – Lesokwana and Lesokwana – Brenner;
• Loop in/out of the existing Eiger – Lethabo 275kV line into Lesokwana substation (1 x double circuit Tx line indicated in Yellow – 17km);
• New lines will be called Eiger – Lesokwana and Lesokwana – Lethabo; and
• Eight new Dx lines going out of Lesokwana to different new proposed and existing substations, including:
  • Double circuit line – Gravett 1/2 (2km);
  • Double circuit line – SAR Plaats / Zonkezizwe (2.5km);
  • Double circuit line – Vosloorus South (3km);
  • Double circuit line – Mapleton (4.5km); and
  • Double Circuit line – Ergo Transfer pumps (4.5km).

Please be advised that the Draft Screening and Specialist Reports are available here for public review. Hardcopies of the executive summaries will be sent via registered post, upon request, to I&APs should they be unable to access the electronic version. The 30-day review period will run from 28 February – 28 March 2022. Kindly submit any comments by 28 March 2022 via email, post, telephone or fax to the below contact details.

Published: 28 February 2022
Review Period: 28 February – March 2022

Contact Person: Mr. Aidan Gouws
Email: a.gouws@cesnet.co.za
Tel:

Tel: (+27) 010 045 1372

Fax: (+27) 086 410 7593