Proposed Installation of an Additional 500m 3 Bulk Storage Fuel Oil Tank at Grootvlei Power Station, Mpumalanga Province Draft Basic Assessment Report

Transcription

1 ESKOM GENERATION Proposed Installation of an Additional 500m 3 Bulk Storage Fuel Oil Tank at Grootvlei Power Station, Mpumalanga Province Draft Basic Assessment Report DEA EIA Ref. No: 12/12/20/2358 NEAS Ref. No: DEA/EIA/ /2011 Issue Date: 6 January 2011 Revision No.: 1 Project No.: 10937

2 Date: 6 January 2011 Document Title: Draft Basic Assessment Report Installation of an additional 500m 3 Bulk Storage Fuel Oil Tank at the Grootvlei Power Station, Mpumalanga Province Author: Lucy Chimoyi; Shaun Taylor Revision Number: 1 Checked by: Kelly Tucker Approved: For: Eskom Holdings Limited "COPYRIGHT IS VESTED IN SiVEST IN TERMS OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT (ACT 98 OF 1978) AND NO USE OR REPRODUCTION OR DUPLICATION THEREOF MAY OCCUR WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR"

3 Details and Experience of EAP In line with Section 22(2) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2010 in Government Notice (GN) No. R543 which requires that a basic assessment must include the Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) who prepared the report; and the expertise of the EAP to carry out basic assessment procedures, the brief is outlined below. For comprehensive curriculum vitae of the EAPs, please refer to Appendix H. SiVEST is the independent Environmental Consulting company (EAP), Kelly Tucker is the lead environmental consultant for the proposed development. Kelly has nine years experience in the environmental impact assessments and fills the role of a project leader. Kelly has led several large EIA s. Projects include full Environmental Impact Assessments as well as Basic Assessments (please refer to Appendix H for a comprehensive curriculum vitae). Examples of projects conducted include: Environmental Impact Assessment Process for three proposed Wind Farm Developments in the Northern Cape Province for Mainstream Renewable Power SA. Medupi Power Station, Eskom Generation Environmental management on site during the construction phase. 400KV Transmission Powerline which is 150km in length for the Botswana Power Corporation in Botswana Arcelor Mittal Steel Capacity Expansion Project at the existing Plant, South of Johannesburg, South Africa. Eskom Transmission: Mercury Garona 400kV Transmission Line, a distance of approximately 570 km. Eskom Generation: Steelpoort Pumped Storage Scheme Project. EIA for the New-Multi Products Pipeline a 500km mixed use Fuel Pipeline from Durban to Johannesburg for Transnet. Kelly was project Manager for the social aspect of this process. Shaun Taylor has four years experience as an environmental assessment practitioner and has completed numerous basic assessments, various exemption and amendment applications, compiled environmental management plans and conducted environmental auditing (Please refer to Appendix H for a comprehensive curriculum vitae). Examples of projects undertaken to date include: Basic Assessment for Portion 318 Erand A.H. Light Industrial Development Basic Assessment for Holding 1 Withok Light Industrial Development Basic Assessment for Blue Hills Holdings 1 & 2 Commercial Development Basic Assessment for Mostyn Park 11Kv power cable crossing under a river Basic Assessment for Weltevreden 202 IQ Office Park Development Basic Assessment for Carslwald Shopping Centre Billboard Development 3

4 Basic Assessment for Braodacres Shopping Centre Billboard Development 4

5 Executive Summary Grootvlei Power Station, located at Mpumalanga Province, within the Dipaseleng Local Municipality is proposing to install an additional (7 th ) bulk storage fuel oil tank (referred to in the report as the proposed tank) with a capacity of 500 m³. The purpose of this installation is to avert the risk of fuel supply interruptions which would be as a result of service delivery and worker strikes, which frequently occur. This is in addition to supplying additional fuel oil to assist the Power Station in meeting increasing energy demand generally. The assurance of supply will ultimately assist the Power Station in safeguarding and sustaining its generation capacity. The proposed tank will therefore secure the fuel demands of Grootvlei Power Station. Eskom Generation has appointed SiVEST to undertake a Basic Assessment (BA) process for this proposed installation. A Basic Assessment is required in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations 2010 promulgated in terms of Sections 24(2) and 24D of the National Environmental Management Act (No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA), as amended, in Government Notice (GN) No. R543. The proposed development triggers activity No. 42 listed in GN No SiVEST have been appointed as the independent environmental consultant undertaking the Basic Assessment process on behalf of Eskom as per Section 17 of the National Environmental Management Act (No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA), Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations. This application considered two types of feasible alternatives. The assessment of feasible and reasonable alternatives is a legal requirement for any environmental application for authorisation. Two location alternatives and two design alternatives have been proposed by Eskom, and are presented in the report. The two location alternatives are referred to as Alternative S1 and Alternative S2. Alternative S1 is located at co-ordinates S : E Alternative S2 is located at the co-ordinates S : E The bund area of Location Alternative S1 will cover an area of m² and will hold a capacity of m³. The bund area of Location Alternative S2 will cover an area of m² and will hold a capacity of 750 m³. The two design alternatives include Alternative A1 and Alternative A2 (Design Alternatives). Design Alternative A1 considers a vertical or stand-up bulk storage fuel oil tank design. The stand-up bulk storage fuel oil tank will have a diameter of 8 m and a height of 12 m. This will be a single tank that will hold 500 m³. The physical footprint of the proposed tank will be 50 m². The tank material will be made up of a steel grade material (ASTM-A36). The bunded area for the stand-up tank will hold 110% 5

6 of the capacity. The bund wall will be 2.3m tall, accommodating a capacity of at least 110% of the capacity of the fuel oil tank. The bunded area will hold approximately m³. Design Alternative A2 considers a horizontal or lay-down bulk storage fuel oil tank design. Two tanks of a capacity of 250 m³ each are considered for this alternative. The lay-down bulk storage fuel oil tank design for each tank will have a diameter of 4 m and a length of 20 m. It is estimated that the bunded area will be 2.3 m in height and will accommodate at least 110% capacity of the fuel oil tank. Alternative A2 will hold approximately 759 m³. The following specialist studies were conducted for the proposed development: Biodiversity Surface Water Geohydrology Agriculture & Soils Potential Heritage Noise Geotechnical Social Risk Based on the specialist studies undertaken for the proposed development, no fatal flaws were identified. In light of the technical information, the environmental investigation undertaken through the Basic Assessment process and the specialist assessments conducted, it is the opinion of Environmental Assessment Practitioner that the preferred Alternative should be Location Alternative S1 and Design Alternative A1, provided that the mitigation measures and specialist recommendations stipulated in this BA are implemented. 6

7 (For official use only) DEA File Reference Number: 12/12/20/2358 NEAS Reference: DEA/EIA/ /2011 Application Number: Date Received: Basic assessment report in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2010, promulgated in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), as amended. Kindly note that: 1. This basic assessment report is a standard report that may be required by a competent authority in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2010 and is meant to streamline applications. Please make sure that it is the report used by the particular competent authority for the activity that is being applied for. 2. The report must be typed within the spaces provided in the form. The size of the spaces provided is not necessarily indicative of the amount of information to be provided. The report is in the form of a table that can extend itself as each space is filled with typing. 3. Where applicable tick the boxes that are applicable in the report. 4. An incomplete report may be returned to the applicant for revision. 5. The use of not applicable in the report must be done with circumspection because if it is used in respect of material information that is required by the competent authority for assessing the application, it may result in the rejection of the application as provided for in the regulations. 6. This report must be handed in at offices of the relevant competent authority as determined by each authority. 7. No faxed or ed reports will be accepted. 8. The report must be compiled by an independent environmental assessment practitioner. 9. Unless protected by law, all information in the report will become public information on receipt by the competent authority. Any interested and affected party should be provided with the information contained in this report on request, during any stage of the application process. 10. A competent authority may require that for specified types of activities in defined situations only parts of this report need to be completed. 11. Should a specialist report or report on a specialised process be submitted at any stage for any part of this application, the terms of reference for such report must also be submitted. 7

8 SECTION A: ACTIVITY INFORMATION Has a specialist been consulted to assist with the completion of this NO section? If YES, please complete the form entitled Details of specialist and declaration of interest for appointment of a specialist for each specialist thus appointed: Any specialist reports must be contained in Appendix D. 1. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION Describe the activity, which is being applied for, in detail 1 : Grootvlei Power Station is a coal fired power station (approximately hectares in size). Within the Power Station there are 6 coal fired units rated at 200 MW each with a total installed capacity of MW. The different drum boilers are fired with pulverised fuel (PF) via individual coal milling plants. The fuel oil is used to start up and shut down these boilers. The fuel oil plant supplies oil to the burners of all six boiler units via a common 4 inch supply duct. The used fuel oil returns to the fuel oil plant via a 5 inch circulation duct. Oil tankers deliver fuel oil on a daily basis to the station to supply the existing 6 tanks. It is not anticipated that the additional fuel oil tank will increase the amount of fuel oil delivered daily, as the additional tank will function primarily as a back up fuel oil tank should the need arise. The additional tank will need to be supplied initially but ongoing fuel oil supply to this tank will be minimal. The fuel oil is predominantly supplied by Sasol from any of their two supply depots, namely Sasol Refinery and Sasol Depot. The fuel is trucked to the station. The fuel oil in Grootvlei Power Station is stored in six storage tanks. Five tanks have a capacity of 97 m³ and one with a capacity of 75 m³. The total existing capacity at the Grootvlei Power Station is therefore, 560 m³. Each tank is fitted with an outflow heater, located inside the take-off of each tank. Each tank is fitted with a drain line that features an isolating valve for draining sediment that accumulates at the bottom of the tanks, this sediment will be handled on site. Grootvlei Power Station is proposing to install an additional (7 th ) bulk storage fuel oil tank (referred to in the report as the proposed tank) with a capacity of 500 m³. After the additional proposed fuel oil tank has been installed, the total capacity will be m³. The 7 th proposed tank will be linked to the other six existing tanks and will therefore; similarly be linked to the 4 inch supply duct and the 5 inch circulation discharge line as with the other six existing tanks. The 7 th proposed tank will be manufactured off-site but assembled on-site. A site establishment and construction lay-down area will be designated for the assembly and installation of the proposed tank. A contractor s yard will also be required during the construction phase of the proposed development. The site for this construction lay-down area has not yet been identified, but will be within the boundary of the Grootvlei Power Station. A Basic Assessment is required in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations 2010 promulgated in terms of Sections 24(2) and 24D of the National Environmental 1 Please note that this description should not be a verbatim repetition of the listed activity as contained in the relevant Government Notice, but should be a brief description of activities to be undertaken as per the project description. 8

9 Management Act (No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA), Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations. The proposed development triggers an activity listed in GN No The relevant activity and corresponding proposed development components are listed below. Government Notice No. R544 - Listing Notice 1 of 2010 No. Activity Description Corresponding project component 42 The expansion of facilities for the storage, or storage and handling, of a dangerous good, where the capacity of such storage facility will be expanded by 80 cubic metres or more. The proposed development would entail the capacity expansion of the existing six above ground storage fuel oil tanks at the Grootvlei Power Station by installing the proposed 7 th bulk storage fuel oil tank with a capacity of 500m³. The purpose of the installation of the proposed tank is to avert the risk of fuel supply interruptions which may be as a result of service delivery and worker strikes which may occur. This is in addition to the existing six tanks, supplying additional fuel oil to assist the Power Station in meeting increasing energy demand. The assurance of supply will ultimately assist the Power Station in safeguarding and sustaining its generation capacity. The proposed tank will therefore contribute towards securing the fuel demands of Grootvlei Power Station. 2. FEASIBLE AND REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES According to section 1 of GN 543 alternatives, in relation to a proposed activity, means different means of meeting the general purpose and requirements of the activity, which may include alternatives to (a) the property on which or location where it is proposed to undertake the activity; (b) the type of activity to be undertaken; (c) the design or layout of the activity; (d) the technology to be used in the activity; (e) the operational aspects of the activity; and (f) the option of not implementing the activity. Describe alternatives that are considered in this application. Alternatives should include a consideration of all possible means by which the purpose and need of the proposed activity could be accomplished in the specific instance taking account of the interest of the applicant in the activity. The no-go alternative must in all cases be included in the assessment phase as the baseline against which the impacts of the other alternatives are assessed. The determination of whether site or activity (including different processes etc.) or both is appropriate needs to be informed by the specific circumstances of the activity and its environment. After receipt of this report the competent authority may also request the applicant to assess additional alternatives that could possibly accomplish the purpose and need of the proposed activity if it is clear that feasible and reasonable alternatives have not been considered to a reasonable extent. The assessment of feasible and reasonable alternatives is a legal requirement for any environmental application for authorisation. The factors validating the selection of alternatives are as follows: Firstly, from a location perspective, the bulk storage fuel oil tank must be in close proximity (approximately 150 m) to the existing fuel oil tank infrastructure for safety and feasibility 9

10 reasons, and for optimised and efficient operational benefits. Placing the proposed tank in a location further away from the existing infrastructure will create safety risks to workers in the Power Station. The further the proposed tank is from the existing tank infrastructure, the greater the chance of encountering other existing infrastructure at the power station, such as roads and existing services. The further the proposed tank is from the existing tank infrastructure will also result in a greater environmental footprint impact and the potential increased risk of an incident that could impact on the environment. Bearing these factors in mind, two feasible location alternatives have been identified for assessment. From a design perspective, it is possible that different alternative tank designs can be evaluated for the proposed tank. Some tank designs (Design Alternative A2 - a horizontal or lay-down bulk storage fuel oil tank design), will have a greater footprint and therefore a greater environmental impact, compared to others. For this reason, alternative tank designs will be considered. The alternatives that will be carried forward in the environmental assessment of the proposed tank are: 1. Location Alternatives A site selection process was undertaken whereby four alternative locations were preliminarily identified with the intent on narrowing down potential locations for the proposed tank to two locations that were more suitable. The initial four sites that were considered were situated at the following co-ordinates: from a location perspective, the bulk storage fuel oil tank must be in close proximity (approximately 150 m) to existing tanks. Potential Alternative Location 1 S ': E ' Potential Alternative Location 2 S ': E ' Potential Alternative Location 3 S ': E ' Potential Alternative Location 4 S : E A ranking procedure was carried out whereby various criteria were evaluated in terms of the suitability of the site location. The cumulative score of the ranked criteria were rated to give an overall suitability rating. The ranking criteria are explained in the below tables 1 and 2. The alternative locations are explained in Table 3 below. Table 1: Ranking Criteria Suitability Criteria Ranking Low 1 Medium 2 High 3 Table 2: Rating and Suitability Overall Suitability Rating Not Suitable Low Suitability Medium Suitability High Suitability

11 Table 3:. Site Selection Table Potential Location Alternative Potential Alternative Location 1 Potential Alternative Location 2 Criteria Proximity Existing Tanks to Proximity to Tank Infrastructure Proximity to Services (Roads) Suitability Ranking Reason 1 Potential alternative location situated approximately 120 m from existing tanks 1 Potential alternative location situated approximately 120 m from existing infrastructure 2 Potential alternative location situated approximately 40 m from nearest road Tank Accessibility 3 Potential alternative location easily accessible due to open area Space Availability 3 Sufficient space availability Biodiversity 3 Area transformed no effect on biodiversity Surface Water 3 Area transformed. No nearby surface water features Soils and 3 No agricultural potential Agricultural Potential Noise 3 Activity will not generate additional noise in this location Social 3 No additional social impacts foreseen at this location Heritage 3 No sites, features or objects of cultural heritage significance identified in the area Geotechnical 2 Certain geotechnical constraints may be encountered Geohydrology 2 May impact on groundwater in this location Proximity Existing Tanks to Proximity to Tank Infrastructure Proximity to Services (Roads) 3 Potential alternative location situated approximately 10 m from existing tanks 3 Potential alternative location situated approximately 10 m from existing infrastructure 2 Potential alternative location situated approximately 30 m Overall Suitability 32 - Medium Suitable 33 - High Suitability 11

12 Potential Alternative Location 3 from nearest road Tank Accessibility 1 Accessibility limited due to existing surrounding buildings Space Availability 2 Fair space availability Biodiversity 3 Area transformed no effect on biodiversity Surface Water 3 Area transformed. No nearby surface water features Soils and 3 No agricultural potential Agricultural Potential Noise 3 Activity will not generate additional noise in this location Social 3 No additional social impacts foreseen at this location Heritage 3 No sites, features or objects of cultural heritage significance identified in the area Geotechnical 2 Certain geotechnical constraints may be encountered Geohydrology 2 May impact on groundwater in this location Proximity to 3 Potential alternative location Existing Tanks situated approximately 20 m Proximity to Tank Infrastructure Proximity to Services (Roads) from existing tanks 3 Potential alternative location situated approximately 20 m from existing infrastructure 2 Potential alternative location situated approximately 40 m from nearest road Tank Accessibility 1 Accessibility limited due to existing surrounding buildings Space Availability 2 Fair space availability Biodiversity 3 Area transformed no effect on biodiversity Surface Water 3 Area transformed. No nearby surface water features Soils and 3 No agricultural potential Agricultural Potential Noise 3 Activity will not generate additional noise in this location Social 3 No additional social impacts foreseen at this location 33 High Suitability 12

13 Potential Alternative Location 4 Heritage 3 No sites, features or objects of cultural heritage significance identified in the area Geotechnical 2 Certain geotechnical constraints may be encountered Geohydrology 2 May impact on groundwater in this location Proximity to 3 Potential alternative location Existing Tanks situated approximately 5 m Proximity to Tank Infrastructure Proximity to Services (Roads) from existing tanks 3 Potential alternative location situated approximately 5 m from existing infrastructure 3 Potential alternative location situated approximately 5 m from nearest road Tank Accessibility 3 Potential alternative location easily accessible due to open area Space Availability 3 Good space availability Biodiversity 3 Area transformed no effect on biodiversity Surface Water 3 Area transformed. No nearby surface water features Soils and 3 No agricultural potential Agricultural Potential Noise 3 Activity will not generate additional noise in this location Social 3 No additional social impacts foreseen at this location Heritage 3 No sites, features or objects of cultural heritage significance identified in the area Geotechnical 2 Certain geotechnical constraints may be encountered Geohydrology 2 May impact on groundwater in this location 37 - High Suitability As explained above the Alternative Locations 1 and 3 have been discarded for further investigation. The reason for potential alternative location 1 being discarded from further investigation and was due to this location being too far from the existing tanks and tank infrastructure. Potential alternative location 1 and 3 were slightly less suitable in terms of their position to existing 13

14 infrastructure, these alternatives were therefore eliminated for further detailed investigation. Potential alternative locations 2 and 4 were then selected as the most suitable location alternatives that could be considered for the proposed development. The two location alternatives will be referred to as: Alternative S1 (previously referred to as Potential Alternative Location 4 - Preferred): Alternative S1 is located at the co-ordinates S : E Alternative S1 is situated north west of the existing nearby toilet buildings and north of the existing tank infrastructure. The distance to the existing tank infrastructure is approximately 5 m to the nearest tank. The general description of the site has a flat topography and is transformed by anthropogenic activities. This alternative is located adjacent to the existing road and is easily accessible for emergency vehicles and filling tanks. Alternative S2 (Potential Alternative Location 2): Alternative S2 is located at the co-ordinates S : E Alternative S2 is situated to the south of the nearby existing toilet buildings and to the east of the existing tank infrastructure. The distance to the existing tank infrastructure is approximately 10 m to the nearest tank. The general description of the site has a flat topography and is transformed by anthropogenic activities. This alternative is bound by existing infrastructure and buildings, such as toilets. The accessibility to this alternative for emergency vehicles and filling tanks is limited by the presence of this existing infrastructure and buildings as previously mentioned. It is important to note why Alternative S1 is the preferred alternative location. Reasons include the following: From a suitability point of view, the area considered for Location Alternative 1 is preferred in that it is ideally located in close proximity to the existing tank infrastructure (pipes, pumps, nearby existing tanks etc.). From a safety perspective, there is sufficient space for vehicular access at Alternative S1. In the case of emergencies, fire truck and other emergency vehicles can gain direct access to the proposed bulk storage fuel oil tank. Alternative S2 is bound by existing infrastructure and buildings, such as toilets. The accessibility to this Alternative S2 for emergency vehicles and filling tanks is limited by the presence of this existing infrastructure and buildings as previously mentioned. From an operational perspective, direct access for fuel delivery trucks will be possible. Ease of access will allow operational aspects to function more efficiently than if the proposed tank is located in a less easily accessible location. Alternative S2 is bound by existing infrastructure and buildings, such as toilets. The accessibility to this Alternative S2 for emergency vehicles and filling tanks is limited by the presence of this existing infrastructure and buildings as previously mentioned. From a capital expenditure point of view, since the preferred location is ideally situated near existing infrastructure, the expenses of purchasing piping and other associated materials and equipment will be kept to a minimum, as so will the localisation of any impacts during construction and operation.. In consideration of the specialist studies conducted, the impact of both location alternatives will be highly similar or if not identical. Hence, there is no particular preference from a biophysical and social specialist point of view. With the motivation provided above, Alternative S1 is preferred from an environmental footprint/impact, suitability, safety, operational and capital expenditure point of view thereby rendering it the more feasible and reasonable alternative. Hence from a location perspective, Alternative S1 is the preferred alternative. 14

15 2. Design Alternatives Two design alternatives were proposed to be evaluated for the proposed fuel oil storage tank. First Design Alternative (Alternative A1): It is proposed that the first design alternative to be evaluated considers a vertical or stand-up bulk storage fuel oil tank design. The stand-up bulk storage fuel oil tank will have a diameter of 8 m and a height of 12 m and have a capacity of 500 m³. The physical footprint of the proposed tank will be 50 m². The tank material will be made up of a steel grade material (ASTM-A36). The bunded area for the stand-up tank will hold 110% of the capacity. It is estimated that the bund wall will be 2.3m tall, accommodating a capacity of at least 110% of the capacity of the fuel oil tank. The bunded area will hold approximately m³. The piping to link the tank to existing tanks is as follows Supply line from offloading station to new tank approximate 50 m length 100NB, A 106 grade B Discharge line from the new tank to LP pump suction approximate 50 m length 100NB, A 106 grade B Piping for fire protection system approximate 50 m length and 80 NB Carbon Steel to nearest tie in point. Drainage will be to a nearby storm water drain currently being used by the existing nearby fuel oil tanks. The stormwater drainage system for Grootvlei Power Station is a closed-system, Drainage from within Grootvlei Power Station drains to a skimming plant where the water is treated and re-used within the Power Station Second Design Alternative (Alternative A2): The second design alternative to be evaluated considers a horizontal or lay-down bulk storage fuel oil tank design. Two 250 m³ lay-down tanks are considered for this alternative. The lay-down bulk storage fuel oil tank design for each tank will have a diameter of 4 m and a length of 20 m. It is estimated that the bunded area will be 2.3 m in height and will accommodate at least 110% capacity of the fuel oil tank. Alternative A2 will hold approximately 759 m³. The two design alternatives will be referred to as: Alternative A1 Stand-up 500 m 3 Bulk Storage Fuel Oil Tank (Preferred) Alternative A2 Two Lay-down 250 m 3 Bulk Storage Fuel Oil Tanks It is important to note why Alternative A1 is the preferred alternative bulk storage fuel oil tank design. Key reasons include the following: A stand-up bulk storage fuel oil tank design will occupy a smaller development area (physical footprint) in that the bunded area surrounding the tank will need to accommodate the diameter (8 m) and not the length (12 m) of the proposed fuel oil tank. The physical footprint will therefore be smaller implementing Alternative A1, than a lay-down fuel oil tank (Alternative A2) which would require a bunded area that accommodates the length of the proposed fuel oil tank. As such, the impacted area for the stand-up fuel oil tank (Alternative A1) will be smaller than the lay-down fuel oil tanks (Alternative A2). From an operational perspective, the smaller development area or footprint of the stand-up fuel oil tank means that there is more space for operational manoeuvrability around the proposed tank than there would be for the lay-down fuel oil tank design. 15

16 3. No-Go Alternative The No-Go alternative entails maintaining the status quo, which is essentially the non-occurrence of the proposed development. In this case, it would mean that an additional bulk storage fuel oil tank will not be installed and the capacity of the existing storage tanks will not be increased and will remain as the current status quo. The existing receiving environment will therefore not be affected by the proposed development and it will remain in its current state. The No-Go alternative will be assessed and will serve as the baseline against which the impacts of the other alternatives are assessed. Should the construction and operation of the proposed additional fuel oil tank not proceed, Grootvlei Power Station is at risk of not meeting its electricity supply requirements should the fuel capacity at the Power Station not be re-enforced, due to potential strikes. Paragraphs 3 13 below should be completed for each alternative. 3. ACTIVITY POSITION Indicate the position of the activity using the latitude and longitude of the centre point of the site for each alternative site. The co-ordinates should be in degrees and decimal minutes. The minutes should have at least three decimals to ensure adequate accuracy. The projection that must be used in all cases is the WGS84 spheroid in a national or local projection. List alternative sites, if applicable. Latitude (S): Longitude (E): Alternative: Alternative S1 2 (preferred) Alternative S2 (if any) No-Go n/a n/a n/a n/a In the case of linear activities: Alternative: Latitude (S): Longitude (E): Alternative S1 (preferred or only route alternative) Starting point of the activity n/a n/a n/a n/a Middle/Additional point of the activity n/a n/a n/a n/a End point of the activity n/a n/a n/a n/a Alternative S2 (if any) Starting point of the activity n/a n/a n/a n/a Middle/Additional point of the activity n/a n/a n/a n/a End point of the activity n/a n/a n/a n/a Alternative S3 (if any) Starting point of the activity n/a n/a n/a n/a Middle/Additional point of the activity n/a n/a n/a n/a End point of the activity n/a n/a n/a n/a For route alternatives that are longer than 500m, please provide an addendum with co-ordinates taken every 250 meters along the route for each alternative alignment. 2 Alternative S.. refer to site alternatives. 16

17 4. PHYSICAL SIZE OF THE ACTIVITY Indicate the physical size of the preferred activity/technology as well as alternative activities/technologies (footprints): Alternative: Size of the activity: Alternative S1 (preferred location alternative) m² Alternative S m² Alternative A1 3 (preferred activity alternative) 50 m² Alternative A2 160 m 2 No-Go Alternative n/a or, for linear activities: Alternative: Alternative S1 (preferred location alternative) Alternative S2 Alternative A1 4 (preferred activity alternative) Alternative A2 No-Go Alternative Size of the activity: n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Indicate the size of the alternative sites or servitudes (within which the above footprints will occur): Alternative: Size of the activity: Alternative S1 (preferred location alternative) m² Alternative S m² Alternative A1 5 (preferred activity alternative) 50 m² Alternative A2 160 m 2 No-Go Alternative n/a 5. SITE ACCESS Does ready access to the site exist? If NO, what is the distance over which a new access road will be built YES n/a Describe the type of access road planned: n/a Include the position of the access road on the site plan and required map, as well as an indication of the road in relation to the site. 6. SITE OR ROUTE PLAN 3 Alternative A.. refer to activity, process, technology or other alternatives. 4 Alternative A.. refer to activity, process, technology or other alternatives. 5 Alternative A.. refer to activity, process, technology or other alternatives. 17

18 A detailed site or route plan(s) must be prepared for each alternative site or alternative activity. It must be attached as Appendix A to this document. The site or route plans must indicate the following: 6.1 the scale of the plan which must be at least a scale of 1:500; 6.2 the property boundaries and numbers of all the properties within 50 metres of the site; 6.3 the current land use as well as the land use zoning of each of the properties adjoining the site or sites; 6.4 the exact position of each element of the application as well as any other structures on the site; 6.5 the position of services, including electricity supply cables (indicate above or underground), water supply pipelines, boreholes, street lights, sewage pipelines, storm water infrastructure and telecommunication infrastructure; 6.6 all trees and shrubs taller than 1.8 metres; 6.7 walls and fencing including details of the height and construction material; 6.8 servitudes indicating the purpose of the servitude; 6.9 sensitive environmental elements within 100 metres of the site or sites including (but not limited thereto): rivers; the 1:100 year flood line (where available or where it is required by DWA); ridges; cultural and historical features; areas with indigenous vegetation (even if it is degraded or invested with alien species); 6.10 for gentle slopes the 1 metre contour intervals must be indicated on the plan and whenever the slope of the site exceeds 1:10, the 500mm contours must be indicated on the plan; and 6.11 the positions from where photographs of the site were taken. See Appendix A for the following list of maps Appendix A1 Site Plan Appendix A2 Locality Map (1: Topographical Map) Appendix A3 Google Site Locality 7. SITE PHOTOGRAPHS Colour photographs from the centre of the site must be taken in at least the eight major compass directions with a description of each photograph. Photographs must be attached under Appendix B to this form. It must be supplemented with additional photographs of relevant features on the site, if applicable. See Appendix B for Colour Photographs. Colour photographs were taken at: Centre of the site Alternative S1 (Preferred) Alternative S2 Other relevant features on the site 8. FACILITY ILLUSTRATION A detailed illustration of the activity must be provided at a scale of 1:200 as Appendix C for activities that include structures. The illustrations must be to scale and must represent a realistic image of the planned activity. The illustration must give a representative view of the activity. 18

19 See Appendix C for a detailed illustration of the proposed development. The facility illustration has been provided for the Location Alternatives that have been assessed. 9. ACTIVITY MOTIVATION 9(a) Socio-economic value of the activity What is the expected capital value of the activity on completion? R 20 million What is the expected yearly income that will be generated by or as a result of the R activity? Will the activity contribute to service infrastructure? NO Is the activity a public amenity? NO How many new employment opportunities will be created in the development 10 people phase of the activity? What is the expected value of the employment opportunities during the R development phase? What percentage of this will accrue to previously disadvantaged individuals? 80% (R ) How many permanent new employment opportunities will be created during the 2 people operational phase of the activity? What is the expected current value of the employment opportunities during the R 5.76 million first 10 years? What percentage of this will accrue to previously disadvantaged individuals? 80% (R 4.6 million) 9(b) Need and desirability of the activity Motivate and explain the need and desirability of the activity (including demand for the activity): NEED: 1. Was the relevant provincial planning department involved in the YES application? The relevant provincial planning department is the Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (MDEDET). MDEDET were notified of the application to for a basic assessment for the proposed development on the 28 th July MDEDET are a key commenting authority in the project. Proof of communication can be found in Appendix E. The relevant planning framework for this application is the Gert Sibande Integrated Development Program (GSIDP, 2011) and the Gert Sibande Spatial Development Framework (GSSDF). A local level municipal framework for the Dipaleseng Local Municipality is not yet available at present. Nonetheless, according to the GSIDP (2011), a key issue in terms of electricity is the current electrical capacity which remains a challenge at a provincial level as there is limited capacity to cater for new developments. The GSIDP (2011) mentions that Eskom is addressing the issue by enhancing capacity. This can be evidenced in this application with a view to ensuring and securing the supply of the Grootvlei Power Station. The GSIDP (2010) further mentions that a key issue in addressing priority areas for electricity is to ensure capacity to accommodate new developments. Lack of or stunted electricity supply therefore stands as an obstacle to development for the District area. This application will therefore contribute towards addressing this issue to some extent. 19

20 2. Does the proposed land use fall within the relevant provincial NO planning framework? 3. If the answer to questions 1 and / or 2 was NO, please provide further motivation / explanation: Bearing in mind that the Grootvlei Power Station has already been transformed and the site for the proposed development falls within the boundaries of the Grootvlei Power Station, the current land use of the site will not change and hence, will not affect the relevant provincial planning framework and surrounding land uses in terms of zoning issues. The proposed development therefore, already compliments the existing land use. Should the proposed development not be undertaken, the potential short-term benefits of local employment creation and participation in the local economy by the contractor would not accrue to the local community should the work force originate from the immediate area. Although, the creation of employment expected to be generated by this development is considered to be very low, this potential significant impact needs to be considered. DESIRABILITY: 1. Does the proposed land use / development fit the surrounding area? YES 2. Does the proposed land use / development conform to the relevant YES structure plans, SDF and planning visions for the area? 3. Will the benefits of the proposed land use / development outweigh the negative impacts of it? YES 4. If the answer to any of the questions 1-3 was NO, please provide further motivation / explanation: 5. Will the proposed land use / development impact on the sense of NO place? 6. Will the proposed land use / development set a precedent? NO 7. Will any person s rights be affected by the proposed land use / NO development? 8. Will the proposed land use / development compromise the urban edge? NO 9. If the answer to any of the questions 5-8 was YES, please provide further motivation / explanation. n/a BENEFITS: 1. Will the land use / development have any benefits for society in YES general? 2. Explanation: As mentioned in section 9 above, the primary reason for installing the proposed additional 7th fuel oil tank is a risk adverse approach to service delivery and worker strikes which frequently occur which could result in interruption of fuel oil supply to the station; and is in addition to supplying fuel to assist the Power Station in meeting daily energy demand. The proposed additional 7th fuel oil tank will therefore securely allow the fuel demands of the six boilers and consequently, generate power for users of the network. Assured supply of energy to the wider network will ensure there is 20

21 adequate supply to the grid, which will ultimately benefit the communities, businesses and services providers that are dependant on the electricity supply. Service delivery strikes are frequent and thus motivated the Grootvlei Power Station to install the proposed additional 7 th fuel oil tank, ensuring supply of fuel oil will therefore benefit the economic development of the District Municipality by allowing business, commercial and industrial operations to continue allowing the economy to persist. 3. Will the land use / development have any benefits for the local YES communities where it will be located? 4. Explanation: Grootvlei Power Station generates electricity which feeds into the national grid. The local communities are dependent on electricity supplied by the national grid. The proposed development will aid in securing electricity supply by Grootvlei Power Station, hence benefiting local communities as well. The construction phase is likely to create a limited number of jobs. It is estimated that temporary jobs would be available to the local population during the construction period as job creation is a priority objective of the Gert Sibande District Municipality and Dipaleseng Local Municipality. Eskom gives preference to companies complying with BEE requirements, thus ensuring that previously disadvantaged people will get opportunity. The contribution to the local economy through creating employment opportunities at the individual and enterprise level would bring a considerable short-term benefit to the local community 10. APPLICABLE LEGISLATION, POLICIES AND/OR GUIDELINES List all legislation, policies and/or guidelines of any sphere of government that are applicable to the application as contemplated in the EIA regulations, if applicable: Title of legislation, policy or guideline: Administering authority: Date: The Constitution of the Republic of South The Constitutional Court 1996 Africa Act 108 of 1996 National Environmental Management Act Department of Environmental 1998 (No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA), as amended Affairs (DEA) EIA Regulations 2010 promulgated (June 2010) in terms of Section 24 (5) of NEMA. Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) 2010 (June) These were amended on the 10 December National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act No. 39 of 2004) DEA National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) Department of Water Affairs (DWA) 1998 National Heritage Resources Act (No. 25 South African Heritage Resources 1999 of 1999) Authority (SAHRA) National Environmental Management: Department of Environmental 2008 Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) Affairs (DEA) Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act Department of Labour of 1993) SANS 10131: Aboveground South African Bureau of Standards

22 Storage Tanks for Petroleum Products (SABS) Hazardous Substances Act 15 of 1973 Department of Health 1973 Local Government: Municipal Systems Act Dept. of Traditional and Local of 2000 Government Affairs Development Facilitation Act 67 of 1995 Development Planning & 1995 Management Unit Minerals and Petroleum Resources Department of Mineral and Energy 2002 Development Act (Act No 28 of 2002) Affairs National Veld and Forest Fire Act (Act No DWA of 1998) Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act 10 Eastern Transvaal Parks Board 1998 of 1998 District By-Laws Gert Sibande District Municipality n/a Local By-Laws Dipaleseng Local Municipality n/a 11. WASTE, EFFLUENT, EMISSION AND NOISE MANAGEMENT 11(a) Solid waste management Will the activity produce solid construction waste during the YES NO construction/initiation phase? If yes, what estimated quantity will be produced per month? 8m 3 How will the construction solid waste be disposed of (describe)? Building rubble will be utilized for backfilling on site in areas that require rehabilitation, All metals will be recycled. Other wastes will be classified, quantified and disposed of at registered landfill sites. All waste will be managed in line with the Grootvlei Power Stations existing Waste Management Procedure. Where will the construction solid waste be disposed of (describe)? N/A for building rubble Metals - MRS Scrap Holdings,Standerton, Non-hazardous wastes - Platkop Landfill Site permit number :16/2/7/C221/D494/Z3/P461 Should there be any Hazardous wastes (expected to be minimal) - Holfontein 16/2/7/C212/y121/p3. All Waste will be managed in line with the Grootvlei Power Stations existing Waste Management Procedure. Will the activity produce solid waste during its operational phase? YES If yes, what estimated quantity will be produced per month? 0.5m 3 How will the solid waste be disposed of (describe)? Metals - MRS Scrap Holdings,Standerton, Non hazardous wastes - Platkop Landfill Site permit number :16/2/7/C221/D494/Z3/P461 Should there be any Hazardous wastes (expected to be minimal) - Holfontein 16/2/7/C212/y121/p3 All Waste will be managed in line with the Grootvlei Power Stations existing Waste Management Procedure. Where will the solid waste be disposed if it does not feed into a municipal waste stream (describe)? 22

23 Metals - MRS Scrap Holdings,Standerton, Non hazardous wastes - Platkop Landfill Site permit number :16/2/7/C221/D494/Z3/P461 Should there be any Hazardous wastes (expected to be minimal) Hazardous wastes - Holfontein 16/2/7/C212/y121/p3 All Waste will be managed in line with the Grootvlei Power Stations existing Waste Management Procedure. If the solid waste (construction or operational phases) will not be disposed of in a registered landfill site or be taken up in a municipal waste stream, then the applicant should consult with the competent authority to determine whether it is necessary to change to an application for scoping and EIA. Can any part of the solid waste be classified as hazardous in terms of the NO relevant legislation? If yes, inform the competent authority and request a change to an application for scoping and EIA. Is the activity that is being applied for a solid waste handling or treatment NO facility? If yes, then the applicant should consult with the competent authority to determine whether it is necessary to change to an application for scoping and EIA. 11(b) Liquid effluent Will the activity produce effluent, other than normal sewage, that will be NO disposed of in a municipal sewage system? If yes, what estimated quantity will be produced per month? Will the activity produce any effluent that will be treated and/or disposed of on NO site? If yes, the applicant should consult with the competent authority to determine whether it is necessary to change to an application for scoping and EIA. Will the activity produce effluent that will be treated and/or disposed of at NO another facility? If yes, provide the particulars of the facility: Facility name: n/a Contact person: Postal address: Postal code: Telephone: Cell: Fax: Describe the measures that will be taken to ensure the optimal reuse or recycling of waste water, if any: Eskom subscribes to ZLED (Zero Liquid Effluent Discharge) 11(c) Emissions into the atmosphere Will the activity release emissions into the atmosphere? If yes, is it controlled by any legislation of any sphere of government? If yes, the applicant should consult with the competent authority to determine whether it is necessary to change to an application for scoping and EIA. NO NO 23