The Department of Environmental Affairs has granted Eskom environmental authorisation for the construction and operation of a nuclear power station at Duynefontein in the Western Cape.

The Environmental Authorisation was granted earlier this month based on the fact that the Duynefontein site generally has less overall environmental impacts associated with it relative to impacts associated with the development of a “greenfields” site.

The Department said the Duynefontein site was also adjacent to the existing Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, allowing for a suite of logistical and operational synergies.

Eskom lodged an application for environmental authorisation in 2007 and commissioned independent environmental consultancy, Gibb, to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the project.

Gibb identified five sites as alternatives for the proposed development during the scoping phase of the EIA, namely Brazil and Schulpfontein (Northern Cape); Duynefontein (Western Cape); Bantamsklip (Western Cape) and Thyspunt (Eastern Cape).

The Thyspunt and Duynefontein sites were the only two sites that progressed to the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) phase and were presented as viable sites for this proposed development.

Non-compliance will result in criminal prosecution

The Department said one of the important conditions was that the construction of the Nuclear Power Station and associated infrastructure at Duynefontein may only commence after the National Nuclear Regulator has granted a nuclear installation site license in terms of the provisions of the National Nuclear Regulator Act (Act 47 of 1999).

“It is important to note that the National Nuclear Regular (NNR) will need to approve the safety case for each stage of proposed construction, operation and, ultimately, decommissioning of the nuclear power station,” the department said.

It added: “In addition, once a nuclear power station vendor has been selected, the draft Environmental Management Plan must be amended and submitted to the branch responsible for Integrated Environmental Authorizations (IEA) in the Department of Environmental Affairs.”

The department noted that non-compliance with any of the conditions of the authorisation may result in compliance and enforcement action that may include criminal prosecution or other administrative action to ensure compliance.