Information-sharing Meeting

Transcription

1 THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK AND NAMPOWER EIA FOR THE PROPOSED ENCROACHER BUSH BIOMASS POWER PROJECT IN NAMIBIA Information-sharing Meeting June

2 Agenda Introduction (SLR) Meeting Procedure General introduction Objectives of the meeting Presentations Project Overview (NamPower) EIA Overview (SLR) Question and Answer Session (All) Way Forward and Closure (SLR) 2

3 Meeting Procedures Please put cell phones on silent or turn off. Points of clarity only during presentations. Minutes are being taken. Please identify yourself and which organisation you represent (if applicable). Please sign the Attendance Register. 3

4 General Introduction NamPower proposes to construct and operate a biomass power plant: Generate electricity by the combustion of wood from encroacher bush, growing in the surrounding area of the proposed plant. The EIA project will be financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB). NamPower has: identified six possible sites for the proposed power plant; and is considering to implement either one of two possible biomass power plant technologies. 4

5 General Introduction (cont.) NamPower will be responsible for the construction and operation of the power plant and overhead power line and is required to comply with the requirements of: Environmental Management Act, 2007 and EIA Regulations, SLR Environmental Consulting (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd has been appointed by the EIB to undertake a full Scoping and EIA process. However, the EIA will cumulatively assess potential impacts associated with all project components/activities, including the activities associated with the harvesting and transportation of the biomass. A separate EIA process(s) would be conducted for the harvesting activities and different application(s) for ECC(s) submitted to MET. 5

6 Objectives of Meeting Inform IAPs about the legislative process that NamPower is required to comply with. Provide a description of the proposed Biomass power plant and associated activities. Provide a description of the EIA process. Provide IAPs with an initial opportunity to be involved in the EIA. Identify any potential environmental issues and impacts. Describe the way forward, highlighting further opportunities to be involved in the EIA process. 6

7 NamPower s Biomass Project Overview of the Biomass Project Information-sharing Meeting June 2017

8 Biomass Resource in Namibia Approx. 26 million hectares of land effected by bush encroachment Expanding at a rate of 4% p.a. Average yield of tonnes per hectare, which is about million tonnes. Sufficient encroacher bush biomass to supply 10 power plants of 20 MW each for more than 180 years. Energy content of wood chips form bush is approx MJ/kg June

9 Project definition and overview Biomass Areas Areas suitable for biomass projects considered are: Otjikoto near Tsumeb, Ohorongo near Otavi Gerus near Otjiwarongo Auas near Windhoek Osona near Okahandja Omaere near Gobabis 9 June

10 Key benefits Bush encroachment is considered the single most important obstacle to the development of the country s livestock sector. The invader bush is negatively affecting ground water resources. Electricity generation utilizing invader bush falls in line with national and local development priorities, serving to provide: employment opportunities, skills development, local economic growth and an improvement in the agricultural productivity of the farmland where invader bush is harvested. Technically Grid support: Voltage and frequency support Base load capability 9 June

11 Project definition and overview Biomass Source: Sampling is ongoing Yield investigation, 24 samples analysed (net calorific value of ± 16.5 MJ/kg) Biomass fuel quantity and quality : ± 10~12 t/ha (20 MW requires ± t/year) 20 MW Base load [10 t/ha] = ± 48 ha of harvesting requirement per day ± ha per year Water Availability : Water requirement for 20 MW (2.8 m 3 /h m 3 /h domestic = 3.0 m 3 /h) 9 June

12 Technical description of power plant Thermodynamic modelling of different power plant capacities are completed and the options considered are: 20 MW and 40 MW Identification of the potential technologies depend on the capacity of plant Fluidised Bed Boiler Technology Grate Boiler Technology Considering minimised water consumption (e.g. air cooled condensers) Typical Power Purchase Agreements term of 25 years 9 June

13 Biomass Power Process Description June

14 Bush Harvesting in Namibia All harvesting activities to be guided by Forestry and Environmental Authorizations Process for Harvesting Projects June

15 High-level Biomass Project Timeline June

16 EIA Overview Legislative requirements EIA process Key issues Specialist studies Way forwards and next opportunity to comment 16

17 Legislative requirements Environmental Management Act, 2007 and EIA Regulations EMA was gazetted on 27 December 2007 and commenced on 6 February EMA provides for the control of certain activities that are listed in GN No. 29. These activities may not proceed until an Environmental Clearance Certificate is obtained from MET. Project triggers a number of listed activities. MME is the competent authority for the proposed project. 17

18 EIA Process 18

19 EIA Process (cont.) Scoping phase: All project alternatives (i.e. site options and technologies) will be considered during the scoping phase. In order to select the preferred site and plant technology, relevant environmental and socio-economic aspects need to be considered during the scoping phase of the EIA process, also taking other technical and financial aspects into consideration. Impact assessment phase: Only the preferred option will be assessed in the impact assessment phase. 19

20 EIA Process (cont.) Anticipated EIA Programme: Background Information Document BID has been distributed for comment: 30 May 2017 Scoping Report Distribute draft Scoping Report for 30-day review: beginning Aug 2017 Submit Final Scoping report to MME: mid Sept 2017 EIA Report and EMP (September to November 2017) Distribute draft EIA Report & EMP for 30-day review: mid Oct 2017 Submit Final EIA Report & EMP to MME: end Nov

21 Key Issues Air Quality and climate change: Air pollution impacting third parties health and causing nuisance: Emissions from the power plant operations and transport of the biomass Dust from construction activities Dust from bush harvesting activities and transportation on gravel roads Power generation from renewable fuel sources meaning less demand on non-renewable sources, and less net CO 2 emissions. Noise: Noise causing disturbance/nuisance to third parties: Construction activities Power plant operations Bush harvesting activities Transport of biomass to the power plant. 21

22 Key Issues (cont.) Socio-Economic Employment and local expenditure Generation of clean, renewable energy Positive impact on grazing areas In-migration of job seekers Community health and safety impacts and impact on neighbouring landowners / communities Change of land use Impact on other bush harvesting initiatives. 22

23 Key Issues (cont.) Groundwater Groundwater contamination Impacts on groundwater resources Water use for the power plant Positive impact through debushing. Surface Water Alteration of drainage patterns Pollution of surface water 23

24 Key Issues (cont.) Biodiversity and soil Physical destruction and general disturbance of vegetation and terrestrial fauna as a result of: Site clearing activities for the power plant; Erection of a new overhead power line; and Bush harvesting activities. Soil pollution, soil erosion and loss of soil fertility; Positive impacts relating to the harvesting of encroacher bush: Improvement of rangeland productivity; and Improvement of biodiversity and ecological integrity of savannas. 24

25 Key Issues (cont.) Archaeology Damage to archaeological sites and landscapes as a result of the site clearing activities for the power plant and the bush harvesting activities. Visual Change to the visual landscape and impact on sense of place as a result of the new power plant, overhead power line as well as the debushing activities. Increased vehicular movements creates localised visual disturbance 25

26 Key Issues (cont.) Traffic Traffic impacts and safety impacts on other road users due to transport of the wood chips to the power plant; The transportation of large and bulky equipment during construction. Waste Management Ash from the combustion process Handling, storage and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. 26

27 Specialist studies Air Quality and climate change assessment Noise assessment Third party Health and Safety Assessment Biodiversity assessment Invertebrates Vertebrates Avifauna Vegetation Visual assessment Socio-economic Assessment Soils Assessment Groundwater and Surface Water Assessment Archaeology Assessment Traffic Assessment 27

28 Way Forward and Next Opportunity to Comment Initial comments must reach SLR by 19 June Attention: Immanuel Katali Address: Schumacher House, 6 Tobias Hainyeko Street, SWAKOPMUND Tel: Fax: ikatali@slrconsulting.com Comments received will be included in the Draft Scoping Report. Draft Scoping Report will be distributed for 30-day comment period: beginning August