Elegant Report

ESKOM

PROPOSED PEBBLE BED MODULAR REACTOR




DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED PEBBLE BED MODULAR
REACTOR (PBMR) DEMONSTRATION PLANT AT KOEBERG IN THE WESTERN CAPE

15 May 2002

(REV 04)



Prepared by: The PBMR EIA Consortium
C/o Poltech (Pty) Ltd
P O Box 7211
CENTURION
0046
Tel: (012) 663 7007
Fax: (012) 663 8429
E-mail: adelev@poltech.co.za



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY[1]
In terms of the Environmental Conservation Act (Act 73 of 1989), Eskom,
South Africa's national utility for electricity supply, submitted an
application to establish and operate an 110MW electricity class
demonstration module Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR[2]) on the site of
the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in the Western Cape.
The purpose of the proposed Plant is to assess the techno-economic
viability[3] of the technology for South African and international
application for electricity generation and other commercial applications.
The Plant forms part of a suite of feasible technologies to optimise
electricity supply and demand[4] for future sustainable and affordable
electricity management and to support economic growth. Since many of these
technologies are new to the South African market demonstration plants will
first be established to thoroughly understand the techno-economic
characteristics of such technology(ies).
The introduction of these technologies forms part of Eskom's Integrated
Strategic Electricity Programme- (ISEP) which will ultimately inform the
National Integrated Resource Planning Process (IRPP) as described in the
National Energy Policy White Paper.
|THE PBMR DEMONSTRATION MODULE |
The Plant consists of a combination of two well established and tested
technologies which have been combined and adapted through a modular South
African design. These two technologies are the so-called "pebble bed
modular reactor" which is based on a nuclear design with helium cooling and
a Bryaton cycle gas turbine which is helium driven.
Its modular design, size and output [5] position the technology package for
commercial manufacturing and flexible integration into the energy mix.
The designers of the Plant state the following advantages:
v It has a high thermal efficiency (42%).
v The construction time frame is about 24 months.
v The building dimensions are 60m long and 37m wide and 60m high
with about 24m above ground.
v It has a high availability (limited maintenance) and reliability
v The design of the reactor and material features of the nuclear
fuel coatings make the technology radiologically safe.
v The capital investment to provide for electricity growth or
replacement of old generation plants is more affordable than for large coal
fired stations.
v It can be utilised for base load, mid merit or peak demand
electricity supply.
v It can rapidly change load rating from low levels (e.g. 50MWe) to
peaking level (110MWe plus). This is referred to as the ramping capability
of the Plant.
The manufacture of nuclear fuel for the Plant as well as the associated
transport of nuclear materials forms part of a separate EIA application by
the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA). Fuel manufacture
will be done on the Pelindaba campus that is located to the west of
Pretoria in North West Province. The Transport of imported Uranium oxide
is proposed to be by road via the N3 highway from Durban Harbour (preferred
harbour of import) to Pelindaba. The manufactured fuel will follow the N1
highway down to Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Site.
The Uranium oxide will be sourced from Russia and transported to South
Africa by sea. This part of the transport falls outside the scope of this
EIR.

|OVERALL GOVERNANCE |
The overall project (the Plant, fuel manufacture and transport) is governed
by various. Acts of parliament under the jurisdiction of various
government departments[6], namely
v Minerals and Energy
v Environmental Affairs and Tourism
v Water Affairs and Forestry
v Transport
v Public Enterprises
v Provincial/Local authorities
These authorities have their own unique processes for approval and
governance, which presents the applicants (Eskom/Necsa) and the
participating public (Interested and Affected Parties) with a very diverse
agenda.
The environmental authorisation process (i.e. the EIA) is only one of these
process(es) and not an all embracing or final approval process. Approval
by one authority does not automatically entail approval by another
authority.
To ensure diligent governance, the government has decided that the National
Cabinet will jointly decide on the progressive development of the project,
to provide the public with additional assurance.
The more important government approval processes are mentioned below..
Ü ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) is the component
environmental authority for the Environmental Impact Assessment for the
proposed Plant, fuel manufacture and associated transport of nuclear
materials.
The DEAT discharges this function in close co-operation with the provincial
environmental authorities of the Western Cape, North West and in liaison
with the Free State, Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Northern Cape. The other
key national stakeholders were consulted by the DEAT via the
Interdepartmental Co-ordination Committee (IDCC) under the auspices of the
Department of Minerals and Energy.
These coordinating activities are discharged in terms of the National
Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998).
The Consultant engaged the other relevant state bodies (e.g.
provincial/local authorities) as well as Interested and Affected Parties (I
& APs) through the public participation process(es) for the EIA.
The EIA process was formally initiated in April 2000 and during 2001 the
draft and final Scoping Reports were prepared and submitted for public
comment and authority review and acceptance. On the 14 December 2001 the
DEAT accepted the Scoping Report and instructed the consultants to proceed
with the EIA phase.
The DEAT appointed a Review Panel to assist them with the evaluation of the
Scoping Reports (draft and final). This Review Panel will also assess the
adequacy of the EIR (draft and final) and report their conclusions and
recommendations to the Director General of the DEAT.
Ü RADIOLOGICAL (NUCLEAR) SAFETY GOVERNANCE
The radiological design (Safety Case) and safety features (Safety Analysis
Report) of the Plant are prepared by Eskom and the PBMR (Pty) Ltd and
submitted for evaluation to the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), which, if
satisfied, will grant the necessary nuclear licences for the phased
implementation of the Plant. This means that the applicant (Eskom) needs
to obtain various progressive nuclear licences i.e. a design licence, a
construction licence and an operational licence. The decommissioning and
dismantling phase of the Plant is integrated into the various earlier
licence requirements, but will also be specifically dealt with by this
authority at that stage.
The NNR is an autonomous body which falls under the Minister of Minerals
and Energy and which governs the radiological safety/health of the public
and the environment according to national radiological safety legislation
(the NNR Act, Act 47 of 1999). The South African radiological
safety/health and environmental standards are also based on the standards
and norms of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The environmental assessment procedure is, a separate governance process
with different time scales to the Nuclear Licensing process and the
statutory jurisdiction of the NNR is acknowledged in the EIR.
Ü OTHER GOVERNANCE PROVISIONS
In addition to the above legislation the Minister of Minerals and Energy
must also provide written approval for the transport and disposal of
nuclear materials/waste in terms of the Nuclear Energy Act (Act 46 of
1999). This provides a multiple system of checks and balances, to
safeguard the public and the environment against particularly radiological
damage.
v OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND/OR ACTS
· Department of Transport
· Department Water Affairs and Forestry
· South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)
· Physical Planning Act
|PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS |
During the Scoping Phase some 2 600 Interested and Affected Parties (I &
APs) were registered and engaged in the process through information
dissemination (Notifications in the media, Information Document (Vol I) and
Background Information Documents), public meetings, focus group meetings,
interviews, capacity building workshops, open days and the publishing of
the Scoping Report for comment.
The subjects/issues and impacts of key significance were highlighted in the
Scoping Report and served as the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the
formulation of the Plan of Study (PoS) for the EIA which is attached as
Annexure 1.
For the EIA phase extensive Issue Based Consultations were conducted with a
broad range of stakeholders. Public meetings were furthermore held in
seven centres to discuss the conclusions and recommendations of the draft
EIR report
A Social Impact Assessment was also conducted as part of the EIA phase and
the conclusions are