Eskom’s power expansion process includes a new-build programme incorporating three Power Station projects which are currently under construction.  These are Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme, Kusile Coal-Fired Power Station and Medupi Coal-Fired Power Station.  NCC Environmental Services provides Environmental Control Officers (ECO), Environmental Officers (EO), a Waste Management Control Officer (WMCO) and Environmental Managers (EM) to all of these mega-projects, monitoring environmental compliance with national legislation, environmental authorisations (EAs) and environmental management plans (EMPs).

We provide environmental staff and services to the following related projects across South Africa:

Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme Project

A power generation facility based 25km outside Ladysmith in an exceptionally sensitive environment.  The scheme comprises two dams, separated by the escarpment and interconnected by a system of shafts and tunnels.  Four hydroelectric turbine generating units, each able to generate 333 MW of electricity, are situated within the tunnel system.  The generating units can be used to pump water from the lower dam to the elevated dam.  Water released from the upper dam to the lower dam pass through the turbines, thereby providing the energy to drive the units and generate electricity, which is used to supplement other power stations on the national grid during periods of peak demand. The turbine generator units are used to pump the water back to the elevated dam in periods of low electricity demand on the national grid.  NCC provides an ECO and two Environmental Officers to monitor compliance and ensure the project is implemented in a controlled and responsible manner resulting in environmental improvement through development.

Ingula - Venus 400kV Transmission Line

The Ingula 400kV Transmission Line, linked to the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme, comprises the construction of 400kV transmission lines and the Ingula Substation (HV yard).  This is in order to integrate the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme power generation facility into the national grid.  The Ingula 400kV Transmission Line is 94km in length and will run parallel to the Majuba-Venus Transmission Line until it reaches the Venus Substation.  NCC provides an ECO and Environmental Officer to monitor compliance of this project.

Kusile Coal-Fired Power Station Project

Kusile is a multi-billion rand coal-fired power station project which commenced in 2008.  The station will comprise six units each rated at approximately 800MW giving a total of 4800MW.  Anglo Coal South Africa has committed to supply the 17 million tons of coal over a period of 47 years, through its empowerment subsidiary Anglo Inyosi Coal.  The initial coal supplies are expected to be delivered in 2011.  In line with current international practice, Kusile will be the first power station in South Africa to have Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) installed.  FGD is the current state of the art technology used to remove sulphur oxides (SOx) from the exhaust flue gases in coal power plants.  The FGD Plant is a totally integrated chemical plant using limestone as feedstock and producing gypsum as a by-product, which is often used in the manufacture of dry walls and ceilings.  The first unit is planned for commercial operation in 2014.  The remaining units will be commissioned in more or less 8-month intervals, with the last unit expected to be in commercial operation by 2018.  The site is 1355 hectares in extent.  It is located on farms Hartbeesfontein and Klipfontein, which were previously used for agriculture and cattle grazing.  Clearing of the site commenced on 01 April 2008.  It is anticipated that construction could involve as many as 10,000 people at peak, Kusile currently employs over 4,800 people, of which over 3,300 people are local residents.  NCC provides an ECO and Environmental Officer to monitor compliance of this project.

Medupi Power Station Project

Medupi is a coal-fired power station based in the Lephalale area in the Limpopo Province. The station will have a maximum installed capacity of 4800 MW and the entire plant will cover an area of 1700 ha, with the power plant and associated infrastructure taking up 700 ha.  Due to the water scarcity in South Africa, Medupi will be a dry-cooled station where cooling towers are not utilised as the steam is condensed and re-used.  The power station would be a zero liquid effluent discharge station with particulate emissions of less than 50mg/Sm3 and, due to the relatively low sulphur content of the coal and local air quality, sulphur dioxide emissions will not have a significant impact on health.  Also, the plant will be equipped for Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) and the decision to retrofit the power station with FGD will be decided based on ambient air quality monitoring results, water availability and South African regulations, including proposed emission limits.  Coal will be supplied from the local coal fields and delivered to the power station via conveyor belts roughly 5km in length.  The coal stockyard will have a terraced area of around 61ha with a storage capacity in the region of 2 million tons.  During the construction period, there will be approximately 38 main contractors on site, for the construction of various components of the project, including boilers (approx. 130m high), turbines, chimneys (approx. 219m high), internal coal and ash conveyors, water pipelines, dams, roads and 3 bridges over the conveyor system and a railway line, six 1000t silos and one 10,000t silo, a high voltage yard as well as offices and maintenance infrastructure to operate the power station when it is initiated.  Also, there will be associated infrastructure including transmission lines, which will integrate the station into the national electricity grid.  The construction is anticipated to be completed by 2016 with around 12,000 people expected to be employed at the peak of construction.  The Medupi Environmental Department focuses on awareness and understanding of local and global environmental issues; reducing waste production; efficiently using energy, water and resources and ensuring that what is used is sustainably produced, without damaging the broader environment.  Medupi also aims to have an ISO14001 Certified Environmental Management System applicable to the site as a whole, thus becoming one of the few mega projects worldwide to achieve project certification during the construction phase.  NCC provides a team of four ECOs and one Environmental Manager to monitor compliance of this project.