Duynefontein chosen for nuclear plant

EXISTING infrastructure and environmental considerations appear to have tipped the scales in favour of the Duynefontein site in the Western Cape for the construction and operation of South Africa’s next nuclear power station.

Eskom on Friday announced that the Department of Environmental Affairs had approved the site for the construction and operation of the pressurised water reactor type nuclear power station, next to the existing Koeberg power station in the Western Cape.

The approval of Duynefontein came as a surprise, because the Thyspunt site near Oyster Bay in the Eastern Cape was the likely site of the new nuclear plant.

According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, construction at the site can only begin after the National Nuclear Regulator has granted a nuclear site licence.

In a letter, dated October 11, the Department’s chief director for Integrated Environmental Authorisation, Sabelo Malaza, said that in reaching the decision, it had considered, among others, the need for increased base load electricity generation capacity, in particular in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, in order to underpin the country’s economic prosperity and development objectives.

The consideration of Thyspunt for the nuclear power plant has come up against still opposition from environmental groupings. The Thyspunt Alliance – a grouping of organisations opposed to the construction of the plant on the site – has consistently argued the selection of Thyspunt was flawed.

The grouping has in the past argued that the site would have significant environmental impacts. The Alliance’s members include St Francis Bay Residents Association, Cape St Francis Civic Association, Supertubes Foundation, Port St Francis Harbour Association, Gamtkwa Khoisan Council, St Francis Kromme Trust and Sea Vista Forum.

In its “Reasons for Decision”, the department said: “The department believes that the overall environmental impacts associated with the Duynefontein site are acceptable and materially lower than those at the ‘greenfields’ Thyspunt site.

“The Duynefontein site being adjacent to the existing Koeberg Nuclear Power Station allows for a suite of logistical and operational synergies.”

Eskom’s chief nuclear officer Dave Nicholls said the department’s decision was an important milestone in the development of South Africa’s nuclear programme.

Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA chairperson Kelvin Kemm on Friday said both sites were suitable for the nuclear power station.