<\/p>\n
Further specialist studies on which site to select for Eskom\u2019s proposed 5 200 megawatt nuclear power station should only be for Thyspunt on the Eastern Cape coastline, between Oyster Bay and Cape St Francis.<\/p>\n
This is the major recommendation in a comprehensive draft Environmental Scoping Report released for public comment.<\/p>\n
Listen\/read:
Eskom report points to Thyspunt as top nuclear site
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Eskom commences environmental assessment for a third nuclear power station<\/p>\n
The report says further investigation at the only other proposed site, Bantamsklip on the Overberg coastline between Danger Point and Quoin Point, should be restricted to its cultural landscape status only.<\/p>\n
Both sites encompass landscapes that have \u201ca sense of place with strong coastal wilderness qualities\u201d. Both would require overhead powerlines to connect the new plant to the national grid.<\/p>\n
Bantamsklip is in \u201ca very remote location\u201d and constructing the new plant here would have \u201can acute impact\u201d as there are few large distribution lines or load centres nearby.<\/p>\n
However, at Thyspunt the rapid development of wind farms has created a large network of new powerlines that have already \u201cseverely degraded\u201d that rural setting.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom a spatial, technical, and infrastructure perspective [Thyspunt offers] clear advantages,\u201d the report states.<\/p>\n
Any project likely to cause significant environmental, social, heritage and economic impact \u2013 as defined in the National Environmental Management Act (Nema) \u2013 is subject to a formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Scoping is the critical first screening step in this statutory process.<\/p>\n
Eskom Holdings appointed Midrand-based WSP Group Africa as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioners to manage the new nuclear build impact assessment process.<\/p>\n
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The draft Scoping Report, which runs to 776 pages and scores of appendices, is available for public review and comment until 5 May.<\/p>\n
The report explains that Thyspunt is already owned by Eskom and is appropriately zoned for nuclear development within provincial and municipal planning frameworks.<\/p>\n
Thyspunt\u2019s \u201creasonable proximity\u201d to existing transmission infrastructure and load centres reduces the need for extensive new infrastructure and limits further land acquisition and servitude requirements. It also lowers the potential for additional environmental and social impacts associated with grid connection, the report says.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpecialist screening undertaken to date has not identified any unmitigable environmental constraints at Thyspunt,\u201d the report states. It \u201cis therefore recommended as the preferred site to be taken forward in the assessment process\u201d.<\/p>\n
This does not however mean Bantamsklip will never be considered for a future nuclear power plant, the report cautions. \u201cThis site is not fatally flawed and remains a viable site,\u201d it states.<\/p>\n
Eskom\u2019s consolidated Thyspunt properties include a substantial mobile dune ecosystem.<\/p>\n
If the draft Scoping Report is accepted by the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, an EIA with independent specialist studies including air quality, water resources, biodiversity, heritage, land use, human health and socioeconomic conditions, will proceed.<\/p>\n
However, there is at least one major stumbling block for Thyspunt. In January 2025, all Eskom\u2019s properties at Thyspunt were collectively declared a provisional Grade I Cultural Landscape by the SA Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). This protection remains in place until 1 February 2027, and may be renewed.<\/p>\n
According to the heritage impact assessment (HIA) in the draft Scoping Report, there appears to have been no substantive discussions on this made public.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe weighting of the cultural landscape significance at Thyspunt \u2026 relies heavily on the current legal status assigned to it under the Provisional Protection of section 29 of the NHRA [National Heritage Resources Act],\u201d the HIA states.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is \u2026 unclear how the proponents of the Grade I nomination have decided on the boundary to be used as the \u2018site\u2019 as these do not line up with the recommendations made by [heritage consultant Tim] Hart in 2012 or the cultural landscape study submitted in this HIA.<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch further engagement with SAHRA as the relevant heritage authority at present must be conducted to unpack the Cultural Landscape nomination.\u201d<\/p>\n
The concluding section of the Scoping Report states: \u201cThere are currently several unresolved legal issues pertaining to the Thyspunt site which is under a provisional protection notice \u2026 and this declaration specifically refers to Thyspunt as a \u2018cultural landscape\u2019 of national heritage significance.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, this process has not been concluded by SAHRA and this leaves a level of ambiguity about the eventual outcome of the nomination process at Thyspunt \u2026 SAHRA must also be consulted to discuss the Thyspunt nomination and what factors are being considered.\u201d<\/p>\n
SAHRA had not responded to GroundUp at the time of publication.<\/p>\n
The draft Scoping Report is scheduled to be presented at five more meetings from 20 to 24 April in the Eastern Cape at Jeffreys Bay, Oyster Bay, Humansdorp and two at St Francis Bay.<\/p>\n
Disclosure: A family member of John Yeld is a director of the company that did the marine biology specialist study for the draft Scoping Report.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 GroundUp. This article was first published here.<\/p>\n
#Thyspunt #recommended #Eskoms #Eastern #Cape #nuclear #power #plant<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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