ABO Makwassie Solar Energy Facility 1 (up to 200 MW) in the Emfuleni Local Municipality, Sedibeng District Municipality, Gauteng Province

ABO Makwassie Solar Energy Facility 1 (Pty) Ltd proposes the development of the ABO Makwassie Solar Energy Facility 1, a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy facility (SEF), of up to 200 MW in capacity and associated infrastructure located approximately 21 km northwest of the town of Vanderbijlpark in the Gauteng Province, in the Emfuleni Local Municipality and Sedibeng District Municipality.

ABO Makwassie Solar Energy Facility 1

For the ABO Makwassie Solar Energy Facility (SEF) 1, a development area (i.e., the full extent of the affected properties) was identified and assessed in terms of environmental baseline sensitivities. Within this identified development area, a facility footprint has been defined in a manner which has considered the environmental sensitivities present on the affected properties.

The proposed facility would comprise the following infrastructure:

• Solar Field/Solar Arrays and associated infrastructure to be located within the facility footprint (i.e. fenced area);
• Two Primary/main access road with multiple access points, and secondary routes to connect all fenced areas of the facility;
• Internal road reticulation within the facility footprint;
• Associated internal electrical reticulation (i.e., low- and medium voltage powerlines to be located within the facility footprint);
• On-site electrical infrastructure hub up to 3 ha in extent consisting of:
• • On-site substation and associated infrastructure,
  • Additional step-up/ transformation/ collector/switchyard infrastructure,
  • Auxiliary buildings (including, but not limited to, Operation and Maintenance (O&M) building/s, admin building/s, workshop/s, gatehouse/s, security building/s, control centre/s, office/s, visitor centre/s, warehouse/s, etc.),
  • Battery Energy Storage System (BESS),
  • A communications tower; and
• Perimeter fencing.

The SEF’s intended grid connection will be the subject of a separate EA process and is not included in this report or process.

Water would be required for sanitation use by operational staff, for washing the panels, as well as dust control on internal roads (where necessary). Water would ideally be sourced from the local municipality, in terms of a Service Level Agreement established between the Municipality and the Applicant. If this is not possible, then further options will be investigated. Where required, a storage tank (i.e., Jo-Jo tank) of up to approximately 10,000L may be used on site for temporary water storage.

A development area (i.e., the full extent of the affected properties) was identified and assessed in terms of environmental baseline sensitivities for the Makwassie SEF 1. Within this identified development area, a provisional facility footprint has been defined in a manner which has considered the environmental sensitivities present on the affected properties.

Date Published:    12 November 2025
Review Period:     12 November 2025 - 12 December 2025

Contact Person:   Ms. Aldi Nel
E-mail:                       aldi.nel@cesnet.co.za
Tel:                               012-426 7435

Public Participation Information: 
The documents can be downloaded from the CES webpage proceeding to the Public Documents Registration below.