Powership project faces major opposition
WHILE the proponents of the 450MW gas-to-power project destined for the Port of Richards Bay await the authorisation from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, this may prove to be only one major hurdle they must surmount.
From the outset, Turkish-based bidder Karpowerships SA has run the gauntlet of opposition, beginning with accusations that they attempted to short cut the normal application channels by linking it to the Covid pandemic, thus claiming ‘emergency’ status for the ‘floating power station’ project.
Widespread opposition on many fronts
The matter of ‘msisleading’ authorities to initially bypass a full Environmental Impact Assessment is currently under investigation by the Green Scorpions, the government’s Environmental Management Inspectorate.
The fact that the ‘emergency’ proposal included a 20-year contract with government precipitated a litany of attacks, many of which asserted that, within that space of time, enough renewable energy could be provided to make fossil fuelburning - ‘dirty’ power - untenable.
Investigative journalists then found an embarrassing link between the applicants and influential business and political kingpins, with the dice seemingly loaded in favour of the Karpowership bid during the tender process.
In March, the company emerged best blessed of all the bidders for the government's Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMI4P), announced by minister of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Gwede Mantashe.
Powerships, working from the ports of Richards Bay, Coega and Saldanha, would collectively supply more than half (1 220) of the required 2 000MW.
However, according to a Daily Maverick report, Transnet said that official permission for the mooring of the powership vessels has not been granted.
Further opposition has arisen over the anticipated ‘hidden’ high cost of the electricity that will be sold to the national grid over the 20-year period.
With an August 2022 commercial operating deadline looming, Karpowership will still have to answer serious environmental questions.
Besides greenhouse gas emissions to be mitigated against, the potential for explosions and gas leaks – especially given serious concerns about disaster management readiness – are major debating points.
Added to this are reports of Karpowership falling into conflict with governments at a number of countries where their ships have been operating.
On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed in a televised statement that the Karpowership ventures were not a done deal and that due processes will be followed.
• Strategic communications consultancy firm Instinctif Partners, representing Karpowership, has requested a meeting with the ZO later this week.