- Gas exploration company, Renergen, has expressed concerns regarding the ongoing construction of the Springbok Solar project in an area designated for future natural gas extraction.
- The developer of the solar project is the SOLA Group.
Springbok Solar Power Plant (RF) Ltd was issued with an Environmental Assessment for the development of a 150 MW photovoltaic solar facility and associated infrastructure on the Farm Weltevrede No 638 Registration Division Theunissen, situated within the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State Province.
The town of Virginia is located approximately 10 km north northeast of the proposed development. The total development footprint of the project will approximately be 350 hectares. The power line will connect the facility to the national grid by connecting into the existing Theseus MTS 400 132 22 kV Substation.
“As the holder of a valid onshore petroleum Production Right granted in 2012, under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA), it is incumbent on new developments to obtain permission from the Petroleum Production Right holder under Section 53 ministerial consent of the MPRDA and to execute a co-existence agreement,” Renergen said in a statement.
“In an egregious attempt to force the Company into granting them such permission, the Company noted an unrelated appeal by Springbok Solar challenging aspects of the Production Right, which has no bearing on the case at hand. We believe the challenge by Springbok Solar lacks substance to make changes to the Company’s Production Right and will likely take years before it reaches a court for a decision,” added Renergen.
Renergen says they have attempted to engage in open and constructive dialogue with Springbok Solar to ensure we retain access to our gas-bearing structures in order for us to continue with our core business activities of exploration and production of natural gas but this was met with obstructive behaviour and a non-willingness to grant the Company a buffer zone around the gas bearing structures.
Renergen claim the land access required to build their solar project needs the Company’s consent under the law in the interest of all stakeholders to work together. Multiple solar facilities and battery energy storage system facilities are being planned within the Company’s Production Right area.
Renergen’s CEO, Stefano Marani said, “We welcome solar developments as a key to transitioning and bolstering South Africa’s energy landscape. Unbeknown to most, helium is essential in fabricating solar panels and wind turbines which increases demand for our product, making our co-existence mutually beneficial. We are meaningfully engaged with many other solar developers in the area, requiring no compensation on the basis that they design their installations around our gas bearing structures, and have good relationships with all of them. In the case of Springbok Solar project, construction commenced without our prior consent or a co-existence agreement, thus not taking our requirements, or those stipulated in the law, into account.”
“The Company remains committed to the principles established under the MPRDA and will continue to pursue meaningful engagement for amicable co-existence agreement which must above all protect our legal right to access gas bearing structures across the extent of our Production Right. The Company is determined to resolve this matter with Springbok Solar in the interest of all stakeholders, whilst protecting our rights under the rule of law,” Renergen concluded.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
