Bio2Watt Energy Holdings (Pty) Ltd (BEH) proposes to install a waste-to-energy biogas plant at Sunderland Ridge in Centurion, City of Tshwane, Gauteng Province. They propose the establishment of an anaerobic digestion, waste-to-energy biogas plant in Sunderland Ridge. The plant will process organic waste (from agriculture and the food industry) to produce biogas and digestate. The digestate will be sold for use as a fertiliser and two alternatives for the biogas are being considered. The biogas will either be converted to electricity (up to 9.8MW capacity) and fed into the national grid or compressed and sold to an off-taker.
To meet investor requirements, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment process is currently being undertaken in fulfilment of South African legislation as well as the International Finance Corporation Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability.
BEH appointed SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (SRK) as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner for the project. An integrated application for Environmental Authorisation (EA) is being applied for in terms of Section 24L of NEMA from Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD).
• In terms of the latest amendments to the 2014 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (published 07 April 2017), in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA), an application for EA via a Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) process is required. The Competent Authority for this application is the GDARD.
• A Waste Management Licence (WML) is required in terms of the 2017 List of Waste Management Activities that have, or are likely to have, a detrimental effect on the environment, promulgated in terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), as amended. The application will take place through the S&EIR process.
• A Water Use Licence Application (WULA) is being undertaken in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) for submission and approval from the Department of Water and Sanitation. Section 21 (c) and (i): Road, pipeline and powerline watercourse crossings, and 21 (g): Effluent dams containing digestate water uses are being applied for.
An Atmospheric Emissions Licence (AEL) is to be applied for in terms of Section 21 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act No. 39 of 2004) from the City of Tshwane. A Category 10: Animal Matter Processing listed activity is triggered.
