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 underway to weigh up the benefits and costs of berthing the Floating Power Plant (FPP) as it is called 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 landside 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 some of the 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 kilometre 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 of problematic aspects of the project.

Weekend Post sent questions to the independent power producer office which is coordinating the project but their response was not available by the time of writing.

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 and an importation regime are established, at which point the fuelling will change to gas.

The FPP will run continuously and will consume 60000 to 80000 tons of fuel a month. Storage of the fuel and the method of refuelling are key aspects that must still be worked and assessed.

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 landside 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 how the overhead line will be secured against gales and the FPP pitching on the waves in stormy conditions.

FPP technology is not new, however.  Floating power plants were initially developed during World War II by General Electric and since then a range of models have been launched including custom made barges that are towed into position, and more mobile refitted powerships.

Advanced FPPs include ones with wind turbines and with submarine propellers that generate power from the movement of waves, currents and tides.

Turkish energy company Karadeniz owns a fleet of FPPs that it rents out to countries around the world that need additional power and at least one is presently doing duty in Africa – in Ghana.

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 impacts 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 of the project if they are “not appropriately managed.

“In addition, noise and air emissions from the FPP may result in the disturbance of birds on Jahleel Island if not managed appropriately.

“The discharge of heated water may result in the disruption of marine ecological processes.”

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

The ratings drop to moderate and low if mitigation measures are implemented but a mitigation measure is offered only for the fuel pollution. It says “storage, transfer and handling of the fuel must be designed and operated to international standards…  and spill contingency plans must be put in place”.

SANParks marine coordinator Ané Oosthuizen was this week leading a team participating in wall-to-wall public participation sessions on SANPark’s proposed 1200km² Addo Elephant National Park marine protected area.

She was unable to respond in detail to questions about the Ngqura FPP but said: “We have concerns. We are dealing with them through the EIA process.”