Off-shore power in pipeline for Ngqura

While floating plant can be quick energy fix, the jury is still out on the EIA, writes Guy Rogers

THE Department of Energy and Transnet have launched a project at Ngqura to generate power off-shore and channel it into the Eskom grid.

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is under way to weigh up the benefits and costs of berthing the floating power plant (FPP) at one of two possible sites in the port.

The intention is that an independent power producer will be brought on board to develop, own and operate the FPP as part of the department’s independent power producer programme.

FPPs can be installed relatively quickly compared to land-side power plants and the aim is that it will help meet the most urgent electricity demands while the longer-term natural gas project is established at Ngqura over the next three to five years.

Some detail about the project and concerns – including how the FPP will affect the proposed Addo marine protected area and the endangered African penguins nesting on Jahleel Island less than a kilo- metre away – emerge in the initial assessment by EOH Coastal & Environmental Services (CES), who have been contracted by the department.

Their “scoping report” has been released for public scrutiny and they are now busy with a more in-depth assessment.

Weekend Post sent questions to the independent power producer’s office, but their response was not available by the time of printing.

According to the scoping report, the Ngqura FPP will carry power-generating turbines that can be run on fuel oil or gas. Fuel oil will be used until liquid gas storage facilities are established.

The FPP will run continuously and will consume 60 000 to 80 000 tons of fuel a month.

The most likely site identified in the report is 200m from shore and 50m from Ngqura’s eastern breakwater where the FPP will be moored to concrete “dolphins”. The estimated 600MW it will generate will be transferred via an “overhead line” from the FPP to a land-side switchyard and the transformed electricity will then be directed via a 6km transmission line to the Dedisa substation and then into the national electricity grid.

It is not clear if the Ngqura FPP will be a re-fitted powership or a barge and whether the shipbuilding work may be done in the Eastern Cape under the Phakisa programme. Neither is it clear if clean energy power generation alternatives are possible for South Africa’s new FPPs – which will be installed at Ngqura and also at Richard’s Bay and Saldanha.

Under potential negative im- pacts for the Ngqura site, the report says there is a danger of water pollution by hydrocarbons and other hazardous contaminants in fuel spills from the FPP and other vessels during the construction and operation phase if they are “not appropriately managed”.

The report rates the potential negative impact of these issues as high and moderate for the FPPs two possible berths.