Part 2 - Eskom

ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED 40MW OPEN CYCLE GAS TURBINE POWER
PLANT IN THE AMERSFOORT AREA, MPUMALANGA
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental
9. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT – SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
9.1. Baseline Social Assessment
For the purposes of this Scoping study, the impact variables were categorised in
terms of change processes as described below. A change process can be defined as
change that takes place within the receiving environment as a result of a direct or
indirect intervention. A potential impact follows as a result of the change process.
However, a change process can only result in an impact once it is experienced as
such by an individual/community on a physical and/or cognitive level.
The categories of processes are as follows:
• Geographical Processes: the land use pattern within the (affected) area;
• Demographical Processes: the number and composition of the local
population;
• Empowerment and Institutional Processes: people’s ability to become actively
involved and influence the decision-making process, and also the efficiency
and operation of local authorities and other significant organisations; and
• Socio-Cultural Processes: the way in which humans interact and relate to
each other within the context of their environment, and how this interaction is
guided by value systems.
9.1.1. Geographical Change Processes
The construction and maintenance of the proposed OCGT demonstration plant and
associated infrastructure might lead to a change in the land use within the local area.
The assessment of a land use change process from a social perspective takes into
account how the proposed OCGT plant and associated infrastructure, such as
pipelines, might affect the behaviour/lives of land owners and/or land users.
Figure 9.1 below depicts the landownership within the study area. Eskom owns the
majority of the farm Roodekopjes 67 HS, which is the area that has been earmarked
for the proposed OCGT demonstration plant. The Majuba Power Station is also to a
large extent located on this farm (and on the neighbouring Witkoppies 81 HS farm).
Households, together with their livestock, who resided on Roodekopjes have either
already been relocated or are in the process of being relocated. Land use change
has therefore already been taking place on the farm Roodekopjes and other Eskom
property (Portion 7 of the Farm Palmietspruit 68 HS and Portion 11 of the farm
Rietfontein 66 HS). It is therefore not foreseen that the land use change on these
properties would bear any significant impact on land users as far as these farm
portions are concerned. Land use change would have an effect where associated
infrastructure (e.g. the gas treatment plant and pipelines) would either be located on
or cross privately owned neighbouring land.
At the time of printing Bohlweki-SSI Environmental was notified that the farm Klein
Rietfontein 117HS has also been bought by Eskom.
E02.JNB.000308
ESKOM HOLDINGS LIMITED
01
72
08/10/2009