New nuke plant for Koeberg?
5 February 2008, 09:37
Koeberg looks increasingly likely to be the site of South Africa's second nuclear power station.
A report released on Monday ruled out building at two Northern Cape sites and said the three other sites Eskom has proposed should be investigated further.
These are Duynefontein, right next to Koeberg, Bantamsklip, 10km southeast of Pearly Beach, and Thyspunt, near Cape St Francis. However, Koeberg comes up trumps in comparison, rating favourably in eight out of the 13 categories for assessment.
Its advantages include the existing nuclear infrastructure and power lines, which would cut costs, its closeness to Cape Town consumers and the few threatened species in the area.
The document, a draft scoping report commissioned by Eskom, presents the findings of the first phase of an environmental impact assessment by the firm Arcus Gibb.
It found that the Northern Cape sites, Brazil and Schulpfontein, could not be assessed in terms of geology, seismology, and many other environmental factors as they have not been studied well enough in the past.
The sites at Bantamsklip and Thyspunt had large numbers of vulnerable ecosystems and threatened species.
However, the report found there was a high likelihood that the groundwater at Koeberg and Bantamsklip could be contaminated by development, and "dewatering" would be necessary as there is groundwater seven metres below the surface.
Koeberg also has wetlands of high conservation status.
Meanwhile, international news agencies reported recently that French company Areva and American firm Westinghouse have both submitted bids to Eskom to build a series of proposed nuclear plants.
Areva said it had submitted a multimillion-dollar bid for the first plant and a second bid for "Fleet", the series of 20 000MW power stations that Eskom wants constructed by 2025. Another news agency reported the bids by Westinghouse.
This comes days after an alliance of South African sustainable-energy groups published a 10-point plan for using wind and solar power to solve the country's energy crisis.
Their plan includes low-income households receiving a subsidy for solar water heaters, which could be paid off through rates bills, and tax rebates for higher earners.
Other proposals are tax-deductible energy efficiency measures; large, energy-intensive businesses entering into negotiations with renewable energy companies to build power stations that would use solar, wind and ocean and tidal energy; and the treasury and department of trade and industry creating investment incentives for national and international experts to build renewable energy plants.
"Our continued reliance on fossil and nuclear power is in direct contradiction to our country's commitment to sustainable development," said Earthlife Africa in a press release.
Eskom says it needs an additional 40 000MW in the next 20 years to provide electricity and its board has approved the investigation of 20 000MW of nuclear power.
The giant power utility plans to build five nuclear plants, the first generating about 3 600MW - twice the power of Koeberg. The first of the new plants might be expanded after they are built.
Radioactive waste would be stored or disposed of at the site of the plant, the draft scoping report says.
When asked for further details, Arcus Gibb referred the Cape Times to Eskom's Tony Stott, who did not respond.
The draft scoping report is available on the Eskom website under the "Nuclear 1" link and at public libraries near the sites in question.
Its findings will be presented to the public at a series of open days, the first at Koeberg Conservation Centre on Tuesday February 19, from 3pm until 7pm.
joanne.smetherham@inl.co.za
A report released on Monday ruled out building at two Northern Cape sites and said the three other sites Eskom has proposed should be investigated further.
These are Duynefontein, right next to Koeberg, Bantamsklip, 10km southeast of Pearly Beach, and Thyspunt, near Cape St Francis. However, Koeberg comes up trumps in comparison, rating favourably in eight out of the 13 categories for assessment.
Its advantages include the existing nuclear infrastructure and power lines, which would cut costs, its closeness to Cape Town consumers and the few threatened species in the area.
The document, a draft scoping report commissioned by Eskom, presents the findings of the first phase of an environmental impact assessment by the firm Arcus Gibb.
It found that the Northern Cape sites, Brazil and Schulpfontein, could not be assessed in terms of geology, seismology, and many other environmental factors as they have not been studied well enough in the past.
The sites at Bantamsklip and Thyspunt had large numbers of vulnerable ecosystems and threatened species.
However, the report found there was a high likelihood that the groundwater at Koeberg and Bantamsklip could be contaminated by development, and "dewatering" would be necessary as there is groundwater seven metres below the surface.
Koeberg also has wetlands of high conservation status.
Meanwhile, international news agencies reported recently that French company Areva and American firm Westinghouse have both submitted bids to Eskom to build a series of proposed nuclear plants.
Areva said it had submitted a multimillion-dollar bid for the first plant and a second bid for "Fleet", the series of 20 000MW power stations that Eskom wants constructed by 2025. Another news agency reported the bids by Westinghouse.
This comes days after an alliance of South African sustainable-energy groups published a 10-point plan for using wind and solar power to solve the country's energy crisis.
Their plan includes low-income households receiving a subsidy for solar water heaters, which could be paid off through rates bills, and tax rebates for higher earners.
Other proposals are tax-deductible energy efficiency measures; large, energy-intensive businesses entering into negotiations with renewable energy companies to build power stations that would use solar, wind and ocean and tidal energy; and the treasury and department of trade and industry creating investment incentives for national and international experts to build renewable energy plants.
"Our continued reliance on fossil and nuclear power is in direct contradiction to our country's commitment to sustainable development," said Earthlife Africa in a press release.
Eskom says it needs an additional 40 000MW in the next 20 years to provide electricity and its board has approved the investigation of 20 000MW of nuclear power.
The giant power utility plans to build five nuclear plants, the first generating about 3 600MW - twice the power of Koeberg. The first of the new plants might be expanded after they are built.
Radioactive waste would be stored or disposed of at the site of the plant, the draft scoping report says.
When asked for further details, Arcus Gibb referred the Cape Times to Eskom's Tony Stott, who did not respond.
The draft scoping report is available on the Eskom website under the "Nuclear 1" link and at public libraries near the sites in question.
Its findings will be presented to the public at a series of open days, the first at Koeberg Conservation Centre on Tuesday February 19, from 3pm until 7pm.
joanne.smetherham@inl.co.za
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Cape Times on February 05, 2008
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