Proposed Coal-Fired Power Station & Associated Infrastructure in the Northern Free State
Eskom is investigating the option to construct a new 5 400 MW coal-fired power station and associated infrastructure, in the northern Free State, in the vicinity of Sasolburg. The likely associated infrastructure includes a raw and wastewater treatment works, a wastewater treatment works, a demineralisation plant, access roads, rail sliding, water supply pipelines, a coal stockyard and an ash disposal facility (emergency and permanent). The extent of the site required for such a power station and associated infrastructure is approximately 2 500 ha.
Eskom appointed a team lead by Ninham Shand Consulting Services to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment process, in terms of the Environment Conservation Act (No.73 of 1989). The EIA process commenced with initial public engagement and authority consultation in July 2006, followed by the publishing of the Draft Scoping Report in August 2006 for public comment. The Draft Scoping Report was finalised after the public comment period and the Final Scoping Report submitted to DEAT on 18 December 2006. The Final Scoping Report and Plan of Study for EIA were accepted by DEAT on 23 February 2007. Eskom however decided to delay the EIA process in order to gather further information to inform some of the questions raised by I&AP's during the Scoping phase, inter alia information relating to coal availability and supply, and the presence of coal on the proposed Site C. As a consequence of the further information gathered by Eskom, the scope of the project changed, requiring an amendment to the work undertaken during the Scoping phase and an amendment to the work that would be undertaken during the EIA phase, resulting in the production of an Addendum Scoping Report.
Current Project Phase
The Final Environmental Impact Report has been completed and lodged with the authorities. It is also available for download below..
]