DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
National Council of Provinces
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 142
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30 October 2009
142. Mr R A Lees (DA-KZN) to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises:
(1)Whether Eskom has any plans to build a Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
plant; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what will be
the electricity output capacity of the proposed CSP plant, (b) where will
the proposed plant be located, (c) when will construction of the proposed
plant (i) commence and (ii) be completed, (d) what is the budgeted cost of
the proposed plant and (e) what will the unit cost of electricity produced
by the proposed plant be;
(2)whether the design for the proposed plant selected by Eskom is a tried
and tested design; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what
design has been selected;
(3)whether any environmental impact assessments (EIA) have been done; if
not, why not; if so, (a) when will it be completed and (b) what are the
results of such EIAs? CW220E
REPLY
(1)(a) Eskom has a demonstration and pilot research programme underway with
a view to construct a Concentration Solar Project (CSP) plant that is
designed to produce 100MW of electrical energy at peak capacity. A final
decision to proceed will depend on the availability of funds.
In addition, the Department of Energy will decide on whether to build more
CSPs in the long term based on the departments Integrated Resource Plan
(IRP).
(1)(b) A suitable site has been identified within 20 km of Upington in the
Northern Cape.
(1)(c)(i) The anticipated construction will start at the end 2010,
depending on the investment decision and the availability of funds and will
take approximately 3 to 4 years to build.
(1)(d) The budgeted cost for the proposed plant is R6, 5 Billion.
(1)(e) Eskom calculated a levelised energy cost of R564/MWh based on a 70%
load factor and a plant life of 35 years.
(2) Yes it is based on a tested design - similar plants are successfully
operating in the United States of America and Spain.
(3)(a-b) Yes, an environmental impact assessment has been done and
concluded on the site. In September 2007 the then Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) issued a record of decision
(project reference 12/12/20/777) for the project based on the following
findings of the EIA:
⢠The need for the project has been adequately demonstrated.
⢠The environmental impact assessment complies with the requirements
of the EIA regulations.
⢠No fatal flaws were identified during the EIA process and review of
the information submitted.
⢠Information submitted by the independent environmental consultant
was deemed to be sufficient and adequate to make an informed
decision.
⢠There were no environmental fatal flaws that should prevent the
proposed project from proceeding.
⢠The CSP plant and its associated infrastructure will not lead to
any net substantial detrimental impact on the environment.
⢠The CSP plant would be visible for a large area that incorporates
various sensitive visual receptors that should ideally not be
exposed to industrial style structures, of which the detrimental
impact (except visual) resulting from this activity can be
mitigated to acceptable levels.
⢠Subject to successful implementation of conditions and mitigation
measures, the proposed activity is likely to be acceptable.
⢠The principles of Section 2 of NEMA can be upheld.