Part 2 - Eskom

ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED 40MW OPEN CYCLE GAS TURBINE POWER
PLANT IN THE AMERSFOORT AREA, MPUMALANGA
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental
The impact on air quality by fugitive dust is dependent on the quantity and drift
potential of the dust particles 9 . Large particles settle out near the source causing a
local nuisance problem. Fine particles can be dispersed over much greater
distances. Fugitive dust may have significant adverse impacts such as reduced
visibility, soiling of buildings and materials, reduced growth and production in
vegetation and may affect sensitive industries and aesthetics. The inhalable
particulate fraction could however adversely affect human health.
Short-term impacts on the local air quality of a negative nature will occur as a result
of construction activities at the proposed Eskom Underground Coal Gasification Plant
and associated infrastructure. Impacts are however expected to be more of a
nuisance value than a potential health risk. Construction traffic, excavation,
earthmoving, and aggregate processing facilities will generate dust. Short-term
increases in sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons from vehicle exhaust
will occur, but air quality is not expected to deteriorate significantly over the long-term
as a result of construction activities. It is expected that air quality will be poorer
during the winter months as a result of temperature inversions common over the
region in the colder months and the cumulative effects of pollution caused by the
burning of coal and wood in households, and from veld fires common in winter.
Sensitive receptors were identified in close proximity to the site. Considering the
prevailing winds has a strong easterly and westerly component, it is predicted that
construction activities could potentially impact predominantly on farms and farm
houses lying to the east and west of the construction site. Amersfoort and
eZamokuhle towns are located approximately 4.7 km north east from the proposed
study area and impacts due to construction are therefore anticipated to be low. The
communities Vlakplaats and Daggakraal lie approximately 6 km east of the proposed
study area, and impacts as a result of construction will vary depending on varying
wind speeds experienced during the construction period.
9.2.2. Operational Phase
This section aims to deal with the estimated air quality impacts which result due to
the proposed OCGT plant operations. Details regarding the source characteristics
were provided from a site layout plan provided
• Gas released from potential storage tanks;
• Gas released from the stacks of the 40MW OCGT as well as from the flare of the
UCG pilot plant and safety valves during regular or upset conditions;
• Release of condensate from the processing plant;
• Material transfer operations;
• Wind erosion from exposed storage piles (sand for construction); and
• Vehicle entrained dust from both paved and unpaved road surfaces.
9
U.S Environmental Protection Agency, (1996). Compilation of Air Pollution Emission Factors (AP-
42), 6th Edition, Volume 1, as contained in the AirCHIEF (AIR Clearinghouse for Inventories
and Emission Factors) CD-ROM (compact disk read only memory), US Environmental
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Also available at URL:
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/.
E02.JNB.000308 85
08/10/2009
ESKOM HOLDINGS LIMITED
01