The tourism industry in the Eastern Cape is fighting to prevent the expansion of wind farm construction close to the province’s leading game reserves, arguing that the facilities will have an irreversible impact on the biodiversity, visual integrity and tourism value of the region.
Wind energy company EDF Renewables operates several wind farms in the province, and is currently proposing to construct a new facility – the Albany Wind Energy Facility (WEF), approximately seven kilometres east of Makhanda (Grahamstown). The WEF will consist of up to 25 turbines and facility infrastructure with a total footprint of up to 45 ha.
Following a formal scoping and environmental impact assessment process, Environmental Authorisation for the project was granted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on March 18, 2022.
Indalo, an association of private reserves in the region – including Kwandwe, Shamwari, Kariega, Lalibela, Pumba, Amakhala, Hopewell and Oceana…
