202306 Necsa Phase 2 Part II of the Geotechnical and Geophysics Survey, including Seismic Survey, in support of the proposed Multi-Purpose Reactor (MPR) project
Dear Stakeholder/ Interested and Affected Party (I&AP),
LETTER OF INVITATION TO REGISTER AS AN I&AP TO BE ABLE TO MAKE COMMENTS OR OBTAIN MORE PROJECT INFORMATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION (EA) FOR THE PROPOSED UNDERTAKING OF THE PHASE 2 PART II OF THE GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOPHYSICS SURVEY, INCLUDING SEISMIC SURVEY, IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED MULTI-PURPOSE REACTOR (MPR) PROJECT AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN NUCLEAR ENERGY CORPORATION (NECSA), PELINDABA, WITHIN THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE.
Notice is given in terms of Section 41 of Government Notice Regulation (GNR.) No. 982 in Government Gazette No. 38202 (04 December 2014), as amended, of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014, as amended, promulgated in terms of Section 24(5) and 44 of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No.107 of 1998), as amended (NEMA), that the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) is proposing to undertake Phase 2 Part II of the Geotechnical and Geophysics Survey, including Seismic Survey studies, in support of the proposed Multi-Purpose Reactor (MPR) project at its Pelindaba site just outside of Pretoria in the North West Province.
The proposed Phase 2 Part II of the Geotechnical and Geophysics Survey, including Seismic Survey studies, will be carried out in phases. The work envisaged for the preferred site is itemised as follows: rotary-core boreholes; test pits; Continuous Surface Waves (CSW); down-the-hole seismic testing. Ten rotary core (RC) boreholes will be drilled to depths between 15 m and 35 m. The boreholes will include Standard Penetration Tests (SPT) at 1.5m intervals. Undisturbed Shelby Tube samples, and rock core samples will be retrieved for subsequent testing. All boreholes will have piezometers installed, and all borehole core boxes will be photographed. Eight (8) test pits will be excavated to the maximum reach of the TLB or refusal and will be photographed, profiled and sampled, and backfilled upon completion. All profiling of test pits and logging of borehole cores will be undertaken by experienced engineering geologists according to the current South African guidelines (Brink and Bruin, 2002). The extent of disturbance is estimated at 15 000m2.
Manyabe Consultancy (MC) has been appointed by Necsa as an independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP), to undertake an Environmental Authorisation (EA) Application process in terms of the NEMA. The EA Application will be submitted to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
Considering that the proposed site is situated in a Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA), the following NEMA EIA listed activities will be triggered by the proposed Phase 2: Part II studies: GNR. 327: Listing Notice No.1: Activity 27 and GNR. 324: Listing Notice No.3: Activity 12, thus the application process to be followed to obtain EA is by way of a Basic Assessment (BA) process. The Competent Authority for the NEMA BA process is the DFFE.
Draft Basic Assessment Report
- Appendix 7-1: Terrestrial Biodiversity (Vegetation) Assessment
- Appendix 7-2: Fauna Species Assessment
- Appendix 7-3: Aquatic Compliance Assessment
- Appendix 7-4: Heritage Impact Assessment
- Appendix 7-5: Geological Comparison Report Preliminary Report
- Appendix 7-6: Air Dispersion Modelling Study Report
- Appendix 7-7: Necsa MPR Geotech Geophysics Part 1 Report
- Appendix 7-8: Phelindaba Site 1 and 15 Veg Rehab input
- Appendix 7-9: Civil Aviation Compliance Statement
- Appendix 7-10: Defence Compliance Statement
- Appendix 7-11: Agricultural Potential Compliance Statement
AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT (BAR) FOR PUBLIC REVIEW:
The Draft BAR for the abovementioned project is available for public review and commenting from Friday, 27 February 2026 to Tuesday, 31 March 2026 on MC’s website (www.manyabeconsultancy.com); Necsa’s website (www.necsa.co.za); and at the following public place:
Location | Contact person details | Operating hours |
NECSA Visitors’ Centre: Elias Motsoaledi Street Extension (Church Street West), R104, Pelindaba
| Mr. Gilbert Lekwe T: 012 305 5310 | Mon-Fri: 9h00-15h00 |
Key Note: This project is being resubmitted for public review and commenting, following substantive additions to the initial Draft BAR in line with the recommendation received from the DFFE (REF: 14/12/16/3/3/1/3188).
Letters providing details on the proposed project are being distributed to all identified Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) (those on Necsa’s existing stakeholder database), which have appended a Locality Map showing the locality of the proposed project. I&APs must provide their comments, in writing, together with their name, contact details (preferred method of notification, e.g. e-mail address or fax number) and an indication of any direct business, financial, personal or other interest which they have in the application. To register as an I&AP, to obtain more information and/or to submit written comments, please contact Mr. Romeo Mpofu at the below contact details on or before Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
Corner Paul Smith Street and 10th Avenue
Unit 269, Block F
Ravenswood Mews
Boksburg North
1459
