chapter 5 - csirfred.csir.co.za/project/cip_eia/pages/ess_ch5.pdffigure 5.1: wind roses from the...
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IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS
CHAPTER 5
CONTENTS 5. IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS ____ 5-1
5.1 Approach to the Atmospheric Emission study __________________5-1 5.1.1 Terms of Reference ___________________________________________5-1 5.1.2 Information sources ___________________________________________5-1 5.1.3 Specific assumptions and limitations ______________________________5-2
5.2 Description of atmospheric emissions generated by the project____5-2 5.2.1 LNG Terminal ________________________________________________5-2 5.2.2 CCGT Power Plant ____________________________________________5-2
5.3 Description of the affected environment________________________5-3 5.4 Identification of applicable policies, legislation, guidelines and
standards _________________________________________________5-5 5.4.1 Air Quality Guidelines and Standards – Construction Phase ____________5-6 5.4.2 Air Quality Guidelines and Standards – Operational Phase _____________5-7 5.4.3 Air Quality Guidelines and Standards – Decommissioning Phase ________5-7 5.4.4 World Bank Emission Guidelines _________________________________5-7 5.4.5 Conventional Coal Fired vs Natural Gas Fired Power Station ___________5-7
5.5 Identification of key issues___________________________________5-8 5.6 Scenarios considered in the impact assessment _______________5-11 5.7 Project alternatives ________________________________________5-11 5.8 Impact assessment ________________________________________5-11 5.9 Specification of environmental thresholds_____________________5-14 5.10 Recommendations for project planning and design _____________5-14 5.11 Recommendation for baseline monitoring _____________________5-15
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TABLES Table 5.1: Emissions inventory for the CCGT power plant ................................................5-3 Table 5.2: Ambient Guidelines for TSP and Standards for PM10 .......................................5-6 Table 5.3: Existing guideline and proposed new standard for dust deposition ..................5-6 Table 5.4: Existing guideline and proposed new standard for nitrogen dioxide .................5-7 Table 5.5: Comparison of atmospheric emissions .............................................................5-8 Table 5.6: Construction phase issues ................................................................................5-9 Table 5.7: Operations phase issues.................................................................................5-10 Table 5.8: Decommissioning phase issues ......................................................................5-10 Table 5.9: Construction phase potential impacts .............................................................5-12 Table 5.10: Operations phase potential impacts ................................................................5-13 Table 5.11: Decommissioning phase potential impacts .....................................................5-13
FIGURES Figure 5.1: Wind roses from the Port Elizabeth and Jahleel Island stations for 2000 ..........5-4
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IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS
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5. IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS 5.1 Approach to the Atmospheric Emission study The objective of this chapter is to identify and assess the impact of atmospheric emissions from the proposed Coega Integrated Power Project (CIPP) on the surrounding environment in the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) and beyond. The chapter is based on a specialist study by Greg Scott and Dr Mark Zunckel of the CSIR. 5.1.1 Terms of Reference The Terms of Reference required that the specialist study include the following:
Collation of information on emissions for the project under normal and upset operating conditions; and identification of any reasonable alternatives within the technology proposed.
Provision of an emissions inventory with a comprehensive list of constituents to be emitted and the source of emissions.
Identification of applicable policies, legislation and guidelines, including the CDC’s air quality guidelines, implications of the new Air Quality Management bill and South Africa’s commitments to international protocols and conventions.
Identification of key issues relating to air emissions from the proposed project.
Assessment of potential impacts at a local, regional, national and global scale. This must include potential impacts of pollutants on human health and the biotic environment; and identification of any constituents in the emissions that could lead to deposition and potential contamination of stormwater, soils or groundwater.
Provision of mitigatory measures to minimize the impact of emissions, based on a review and understanding of international best practice.
Recommendations for further studies, if considered necessary, in particular whether detailed dispersion modelling is required in conjunction with a human health risk assessment as part of a future EIA process.
5.1.2 Information sources This assessment is based on background information provided by Eskom Holdings Limited and their project partners and technical information gathered from similar developments worldwide. The atmospheric emissions from each component is assessed based on the current and proposed future emissions guidelines and standards provided by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and by the World Bank.
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5.1.3 Specific assumptions and limitations The specialist study was qualitative and based on previous modeling results and the experience of the specialists, in particular from undertaking the air emissions specialist study and detailed modelling for the EIA for the Aluminium Pechiney smelter (Zunckel et al., 2002). 5.2 Description of atmospheric emissions generated by the project LNG is the liquefied form of natural gas. Natural gas is composed primarily of methane (typically 90%), but may also contain ethane, propane and heavier hydrocarbons. The liquefaction process removes impurities which include oxygen, carbon dioxide, sulphur compounds and water. LNG itself is not flammable since it contains no oxygen, however when LNG is mixed with air in the correct ratios the gas becomes flammable. If the mixture with air is less than 5% it cannot burn because of insufficient fuel. Conversely, if the fuel mixture with air is higher than 15% it cannot burn due to excess fuel. 5.2.1 LNG Terminal The LNG will be delivered to the terminal by ship and pumped from the ship into storage tanks via cryogenic pipelines. It is assumed that the LNG terminal will have no emissions to the atmosphere, since the LNG is undergoing a phase change back to gas through heating with seawater. LNG is stored in large insulated tanks that are designed to minimise any heat ingress. The insulation of the tanks is not sufficient to keep the temperature of the LNG cold. LNG will stay at near constant temperature if kept at constant pressure. This phenomenon is called “auto refrigeration”. As long as the steam (LNG vapour boil-off) is allowed to leave the tank, in a safe and controlled manner, the temperature will remain constant. This vapourisation loss is collected from the tank and either reabsorbed as a liquid or sent to the gas output line. This is a closed system with no emissions to the atmosphere. 5.2.2 CCGT Power Plant The CCGT power plant shall have a capacity of 1600 MW, consisting of 4 single shaft combined cycle gas turbine units. Each unit shall consist of a large frame industrial gas turbine fitted with a dry low NOx combustor. The units will be connected in a single shaft configuration to a hydrogen-cooled generator and a condensing, tandem pressure, compound steam turbine. Hot combustion gas from the gas turbine shall be passed through a horizontal, natural circulation, reheat, triple pressure heat recovery steam generator, with the exhaust gas discharged to the atmosphere via a flue gas stack. The plant will only be fired on natural gas, with no backup fuel system. The CCGT power plant will have 4 stacks, one for each unit. The stacks shall be at least 41m high with a diameter of 6.7m. The emissions will primarily comprise CO2 and NOx. Table 5.1
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provides a summary of the emissions inventory. Total emissions shall be approximately 2571 kg/s of flue gas at 95 °C including 150.89 kg/s of CO2 and 116.14 g/s of NOx. These NOx emission levels can only be achieved with the installation of a low-NOx burner on each unit. The NOx emission levels will be well below the guidelines stipulated by the World Bank for new thermal power stations (World Bank, 1998a).
Table 5.1: Emissions inventory for the CCGT power plant
Pollutant Source Emission Rate CO2 CCGT Flue Stack 150.89 kg/s NOx CCGT Flue Stack 116.14 g/s SO2 CCGT Flue Stack Negligible
Particulates CCGT Flue Stack Negligible CH4 Fugitive Emissions Negligible
CO2 emissions from the CCGT power plant is estimated to be 4 068 242 t/year. The total CO2 emission from South Africa is estimated as 294 Mt/year (van der Merwe and Scholes, 1998). This implies that the CO2 emission from the proposed CCGT power plant will be 1.38% of South Africa’s total CO2 emission. This is considered a significant contribution from a single source. It is noteworthy that the CO2 emissions from this power plant are significantly lower that the CO2 emissions from an equivalent conventional coal-fired power station (World Bank, 1998a). 5.3 Description of the affected environment The proposed site is located within the Coega IDZ, northeast of Port Elizabeth in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. The site is located on the northern side of the harbour entrance to the Port of Ngqura. The bulk of the Coega Integrated Power Project will be located in close proximity to the coastline. The prevailing meteorology at this location is more complex than a site further inland. Figure 5.1 shows the wind roses for Port Elizabeth and Jahleel Island. The Port Elizabeth station is located away from the coastline while Jahleel Island will have a similar wind pattern to the proposed development. The Jahleel Island site will have better dispersion potential compared to the Port Elizabeth site due to the higher average wind speed and the low percentage of calm winds. The high frequency of light north-north-westerly winds observed at Jahleel Island can be attributed to maritime wind flows. Emissions from the Coega Integrated Power Project would disperse over the Coega IDZ under these wind conditions. Prevailing wind along the coast tends to follow the coastline and the winds in the vicinity of Port Elizabeth are west-southwest and east-northeast. As such, emissions from the Coega Integrated Power Project will be expected to disperse both up and down the coastline. Potentially sensitive receptors are located to the north and northwest with the closest citrus farms approximately 15 km away and the abalone farm approximately 2 km away. Potentially sensitive receptors located to the south include the residential areas of Motherwell approximately 7 km away and Port Elizabeth approximately 20 km away.
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Port Elizabeth (8784 hours) Jahleel Island (8481 hours) Avg Wind Speed – 5.29 m/s Avg Wind Speed – 6.01 m/s % Calms – 0.73 % Calms – 0.10
Figure 5.1: Wind roses from the Port Elizabeth and Jahleel Island stations for 2000 The only industrial source of air pollution in the Coega IDZ currently is from Algoa Bricks, which is a relatively small brickwork located towards the western edge of the IDZ. Emissions are likely to be mostly SO2, hydrogen fluoride and particulate matter. Aluminium Pechiney has recently received environmental authorisation to proceed with the construction of an aluminium smelter in the metallurgical cluster of the Coega IDZ. Emissions from this source will be SO2, hydrogen fluoride, particulate fluoride, particulates, carbon monoxide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. No acute or chronic health effects are anticipated as a result of the emissions from the smelter (Zunckel et al., 2003). Motor vehicle emissions from the N2 to the east and the old Grahamstown Road to the northwest will have some effect on the current air quality in the IDZ. Industrial activity in the Markman Industrial Area, located on the south-western boundary of the Coega IDZ will also have some effect on air quality in the area, particularly under the prevailing south-westerly wind conditions. Industries with processes that produce emissions to the atmosphere include an abattoir, two tanneries and a foundry. Likely pollutants from these sources include SO2, particulate matter, as well as odorous pollutants from the abattoir and tanneries. Other industries such as cable manufacture and motor assemblies have little or no impact on air quality in the Coega IDZ. Emissions from ships moving into and out of the Port of Ngqura will be a future source of air pollution in the Coega area, however detailed information regarding ship movements is not
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available at this time. As such, emissions from this source have not been considered in this study. Unvegetated or sparsely vegetated areas are reasonably common in the Coega area and its surrounds. The moderate to strong winds that occur with a high frequency easily liberates sand and dust from these areas. As a result, wind blown dust, particularly in winter, has an impact on air quality in the area. The current air quality in the Coega IDZ is considered good, as indicated by air quality monitoring conducted at three sites within the IDZ. The sites currently monitor SO2, total suspended particulates (TSP) and PM10 (fine particulate matter). SO2 concentrations are relatively low at all three stations, well below the current and recommended South African air quality guidelines and standards respectively. TSP and PM10 concentration are also below the South African guideline concentrations, however concentrations of these pollutants do peak during the winter month (May – September). 5.4 Identification of applicable policies, legislation, guidelines and
standards South Africa signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1994, and ratified it in 1997. During 2002, South Africa acceded to the Kyoto Protocol. In global terms, Africa is a small player with only 3% of the world’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and South Africa contributes approximately half of these emissions. The energy sector, including the production of electricity, is a major contributor to South Africa’s green-house gas emissions. South Africa is currently under no obligation to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases because it is regarded as a developing country (National State of the Environment Report, 1999). However, it is highly likely that developing countries will be required to do so, and incentives may well be provided by the international community in the near future to encourage developing countries to limit their increases in greenhouse gas emissions. The current legislation governing air quality in South Africa is the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act (No 45 of 1965). This legislation lists Power Generation processes (Activity 29) as a scheduled activity. All scheduled activities require a registration certificate prior to commissioning. This legislation is currently in the process of revision and the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Bill is currently under development with promulgation expected before the end of 2003. Under the new legislation, all scheduled activities listed under the old Act would remain listed activities, until this list is revised. As such, the CCGT would require an emissions permit under the new legislation. This permit would be a provisional emissions permit until it is demonstrated that the facility can comply with the conditions laid out in the provisional permit. Following this a final emissions permit would be issued. This permit is subject to periodic review and must be renewed on a regular basis (frequency yet to be decided).
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The listing of Power Generation as a scheduled activity will result in the proposed project requiring authorisation in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations published under the Environmental Conservation Act (Act 73 of 1989). The emissions from the CCGT power plant must also comply with the air quality guidelines specified by the Coega Development Corporation. The CDC has set guideline concentrations for sulphur dioxide and particulates, however these are not pollutants of concern from this proposed development. Emissions from the CCGT power plant are primarily oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. To date, no guidelines for these pollutants have been set by the CDC. The World Bank has established maximum emission levels for all fossil-fuel-based thermal power stations with a capacity of 50 MW or greater. The emission criteria are detailed in Section 5.4.4. The proposed CCGT power plant falls within these criteria. 5.4.1 Air Quality Guidelines and Standards – Construction Phase The current ambient air quality guidelines for total suspended particulates (TSP) and proposed new ambient air quality standards (SANS, in press) for fine particulates (PM10) are given in Table 5.2 below. It must be noted that a new standard for TSP has not yet been developed and the PM10 standard only looks at the finer component of particulate emissions (i.e. particles < 10 microns). The proposed new ambient air quality standards are currently in the process of adoption.
Table 5.2: Ambient Guidelines for TSP and Standards for PM10
Averaging Period Current Guideline (TSP) New Proposed Standard (PM10) 24-hour 300 µg/m3 75 µg/m3 Annual 100 µg/m3 40 µg/m3
The existing guidelines and proposed new standards for dust deposition (SANS, in press) are presented in Table 5.3 below. Both the guideline and standard are average values measured over a 30 day period.
Table 5.3: Existing guideline and proposed new standard for dust deposition Current Guideline
Classification Deposition Rate Proposed New Standard Classification Deposition Rate
Slight < 250 mg/m2/day Residential < 600 mg/m2/day Moderate 250 – 500 mg/m2/day Industrial 600 – 1200 mg/m2/day
Heavy 500 – 1200 mg/m2/day Action 1200 – 2400 mg/m2/day Very Heavy > 1200 mg/m2/day Alert > 2400 mg/m2/day
Coega Integrated Power Project: Environmental Screening Study
Final Report, February 2004 - Confidential
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The proposed new standard for dust deposition classifies the site as either residential or industrial and provides standards for each of these areas. The Action and Alert classifications are action thresholds for excessively dusty industrial operations. The Action
IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS
CHAPTER 5
threshold may be exceeded only three times per year and not in consecutive months, whereas the Alert threshold may not be exceeded at all. Should the Alert threshold be exceeded then remediation must be undertaken immediately and the incident reported to the relevant environmental authorities. 5.4.2 Air Quality Guidelines and Standards – Operational Phase The current ambient air quality guidelines and proposed new ambient air quality standard (SANS, in press) for nitrogen dioxide are presented in Table 5.4 below.
Table 5.4: Existing guideline and proposed new standard for nitrogen dioxide
Averaging Period Current Guideline New Proposed Standard 1-hour 382 µg/m3 200 µg/m3 Annual 96 µg/m3 40 µg/m3
The new ambient air quality standards have only been prepared for NO2 at present, but they will be expanded to include NOx at a later date. 5.4.3 Air Quality Guidelines and Standards – Decommissioning Phase No relevant thresholds. 5.4.4 World Bank Emission Guidelines The World Bank guidelines for new thermal power plants specify emissions of particulate matter should not exceed 50 mg/Nm3, total sulphur dioxide emissions should be less than 2000 mg/Nm3 with a maximum emission level of 500 tons per day and emission limits for nitrogen oxides should be 320 mg/Nm3 for a gas fired power station (World Bank, 1998a). The proposed CCGT power plant will comply with these requirements. The World Bank indicates that natural gas is the preferred fuel for minimising greenhouse gas emissions because it produces lower carbon dioxide emissions per unit of energy and enhances energy efficiency (World Bank, 1998). 5.4.5 Conventional Coal Fired vs Natural Gas Fired Power Station Table 5.5 provides a comparison between the emissions from a conventional coal fired power station (Eskom, 2001) and a natural gas fired power plant per MW of electricity generated. This comparison shows that the CCGT power plant has significantly lower emissions to atmosphere when compared to a conventional coal fired power station. The rates quoted for a conventional coal fired power station are average values, and vary according to the grade of coal utilised.
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Table 5.5: Comparison of atmospheric emissions Pollutant Conventional Coal Fired
Power Station Combined Cycle Gas Turbine
Power Station Particulates ~ 0.3 kg/MWh Negligible SO2 ~ 5.3 kg/MWh Negligible NOx ~ 1.7 kg/MWh 0.3 kg/MWh CO2 ~ 800 kg/MWh 350 kg/MWh 5.5 Identification of key issues A key issue related to the construction and operation of any industrial development project is the potential for air pollution (and associated risks to human, plant and animal health) as a result of the project’s atmospheric emissions. Tables 5.6 – 5.8 identify potential impacts associated with the construction, operations and decommissioning phase of the CIPP.
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IMP
AC
T A
SSE
SSM
EN
T O
F A
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OSP
HE
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ND
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Tabl
e 5.
6: C
onst
ruct
ion
phas
e is
sues
Issu
e/co
ncer
n id
entif
ied
Pote
ntia
l sou
rce
of im
pact
Po
tent
ial i
mpa
ct
Ris
k si
tuat
ion
unde
r whi
ch im
pact
oc
curs
W
hat a
tmos
pher
ic e
mis
sion
s w
ill b
e ge
nera
ted
durin
g co
nstru
ctio
n ac
tiviti
es?
Win
d bl
own
dust
from
: - C
onst
ruct
ion
road
s,
- Mat
eria
l sto
ckpi
les,
- O
pen
exca
vatio
ns, a
nd
- Spo
il m
ater
ial.
Exh
aust
fum
es /
smok
e fro
m:
- Veh
icle
/ m
achi
nery
em
issi
ons
Impa
ct o
f pa
rticu
late
mat
ter
on
hum
an h
ealth
and
bio
ta
Im
pact
of
ex
haus
t fu
mes
an
d sm
oke
lead
ing
to n
uisa
nce
and
air p
ollu
tion
Hig
h w
inds
P
oorly
mai
ntai
ned
vehi
cles
C
oega
Int
egra
ted
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er P
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Tabl
e 5.
7: O
pera
tions
pha
se is
sues
Issu
e/co
ncer
n id
entif
ied
Pote
ntia
l sou
rce
of im
pact
Po
tent
ial i
mpa
ct
Ris
k si
tuat
ion
unde
r whi
ch im
pact
oc
curs
W
hat a
tmos
pher
ic e
mis
sion
s w
ill b
e ge
nera
ted
durin
g th
e op
erat
ion
of th
e LN
G T
erm
inal
?
Pip
e fa
ilure
, val
ve fa
ilure
, pum
p fa
ilure
, sto
rage
tank
rupt
ure
from
the:
- S
tora
ge ta
nks
- Cry
ogen
ic p
ipel
ines
- G
as p
ipel
ines
- R
egas
ifica
tion
plan
t
Impa
ct o
f LN
G o
r nat
ural
gas
leak
age
on s
urro
undi
ng e
nviro
nmen
t, le
adin
g to
an
expl
osio
n.
Poo
r mai
nten
ance
of i
nfra
stru
ctur
e at
th
e te
rmin
al
Wha
t atm
osph
eric
em
issi
ons
will
be
gene
rate
d by
the
oper
atio
n of
the
com
bine
d cy
cle
gas
turb
ines
(C
CG
T)?
Gas
turb
ine
emis
sion
s Im
pact
of h
igh
ambi
ent
conc
entra
tions
of C
O2 a
nd N
Ox
lead
ing
to h
ealth
and
bio
tic im
pact
s
Poo
r dis
pers
ion
cond
ition
s (e
.g.
tem
pera
ture
inve
rsio
n on
a c
alm
day
tra
ppin
g po
lluta
nts
in th
e C
oega
V
alle
y, a
con
ditio
n th
at o
ccur
s 2%
of
the
time
durin
g th
e w
inte
r mon
ths
of
May
to A
ugus
t) W
hat a
tmos
pher
ic e
mis
sion
s w
ill b
e ge
nera
ted
durin
g th
e pi
ping
of
natu
ral g
as to
clie
nts
in th
e C
oega
ID
Z?
Pip
e fa
ilure
, val
ve fa
ilure
, pum
p fa
ilure
from
gas
pip
elin
es
Impa
ct o
f nat
ural
gas
leak
age
on
surr
ound
ing
envi
ronm
ent l
eadi
ng to
an
exp
losi
on.
Poo
r mai
nten
ance
– p
ipe
netw
ork
Ta
ble
5.8:
Dec
omm
issi
onin
g ph
ase
issu
es
Is
sue/
conc
ern
iden
tifie
d Po
tent
ial s
ourc
e of
impa
ct
Pote
ntia
l im
pact
R
isk
situ
atio
n un
der w
hich
impa
ct
occu
rs
Wha
t atm
osph
eric
em
issi
ons
will
be
gene
rate
d du
ring
the
deco
mm
issi
onin
g of
the
Coe
ga
Inte
grat
ed P
ower
pro
ject
?
Non
e id
entif
ied
Non
e id
entif
ied
Non
e id
entif
ied
C
oega
Int
egra
ted
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er P
roje
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ial
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5.6 Scenarios considered in the impact assessment The only scenario considered in this assessment was the proposed development operating under normal conditions. Upset or abnormal conditions were not assessed due to the lack of technical information relating to these particular conditions. 5.7 Project alternatives No project alternatives were considered in this assessment, however the installation of low NOx burners are indicated at the outset of the project. In order to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) from the proposed development a CO2 scrubbing system could be installed. The use of monoethonolamine (MEA) scrubbing for gas turbine combined cycle exhaust gas is technically possible but not desirable from an economic standpoint (Narula et al., 2002). The CO2 content in the gas turbine flue gas is only in the range of 2 to 3 percent, compared with the 12 to 15 percent range in the coal-fired boiler flue gas. This makes MEA scrubbing thermally inefficient, and rejected as a potential alternative. 5.8 Impact assessment The potential impacts associated with construction, operation and decommissioning of the CIPP are assessed in Tables 5.9 – 5.11. All potential impacts are assessed to be of low or medium significance and no potential fatal flaws are identified.
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Ta
ble
5.9:
Con
stru
ctio
n ph
ase
pote
ntia
l im
pact
s
Pote
ntia
l Im
pact
St
atus
Si
gnifi
canc
e D
egre
e of
con
fiden
ce
Pote
ntia
l Fat
al F
law
Im
pact
of p
artic
ulat
e m
atte
r on
hum
an
heal
th a
nd b
iota
Neg
ativ
e Lo
w, c
onsi
derin
g th
e im
pact
ca
n be
man
aged
H
igh,
bas
ed o
n pr
evio
us
expe
rienc
e N
o, s
ince
miti
gatio
n m
easu
res
can
keep
am
bien
t lev
els
unde
r cur
rent
gu
idel
ine
conc
entra
tions
Im
pact
of e
xhau
st
fum
es a
nd s
mok
e le
adin
g to
nui
sanc
e an
d ai
r pol
lutio
n
Neg
ativ
e Lo
w, c
onsi
derin
g th
e im
pact
ca
n be
man
aged
H
igh,
bas
ed o
n pr
evio
us
expe
rienc
e N
o, s
ince
sim
ple
man
agem
ent
mea
sure
s ca
n co
ntro
l and
lim
it th
is
pote
ntia
l im
pact
C
oega
Int
egra
ted
Pow
er P
roje
ct: E
nvir
onm
enta
l Scr
eeni
ng S
tudy
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nal R
epor
t, F
ebru
ary
2004
- C
onfi
dent
ial
page
5-1
2
IMP
AC
T A
SSE
SSM
EN
T O
F A
TM
OSP
HE
RIC
CO
ND
ITIO
NS
CH
AP
TE
R 5
Tabl
e 5.
10:
Ope
ratio
ns p
hase
pot
entia
l im
pact
s
Pote
ntia
l Im
pact
St
atus
Si
gnifi
canc
e D
egre
e of
con
fiden
ce
Pote
ntia
l Fat
al F
law
Im
pact
of L
NG
or
natu
ral g
as le
akag
e on
sur
roun
ding
en
viro
nmen
t, le
adin
g to
an
expl
osio
n.
Neg
ativ
e Lo
w, m
anag
emen
t sys
tem
s ca
n be
put
in p
lace
H
igh,
with
app
ropr
iate
m
aint
enan
ce p
lans
the
impa
cts
may
nev
er o
ccur
No,
sin
ce th
e po
tent
ial i
mpa
ct c
an
be m
anag
ed b
y th
e de
velo
pmen
t an
d im
plem
enta
tion
of a
ppro
pria
te
mai
nten
ance
pla
ns.
Hig
h am
bien
t NO
x co
ncen
tratio
ns
Neg
ativ
e M
ediu
m, N
Ox e
mis
sion
s ca
n im
pact
loca
lly if
in
suffi
cien
tly h
igh
conc
entra
tions
Hig
h, b
ased
on
prev
ious
m
odel
ling
exer
cise
s in
the
Coe
ga a
rea
No,
sin
ce th
e po
tent
ial a
reas
of
impa
ct c
an b
e id
entif
ied
thro
ugh
disp
ersi
on m
odel
ling
and
appr
opria
te m
itiga
tion
mea
sure
s un
derta
ken
G
reen
hous
e ga
s em
issi
ons
(CO
2)
Neg
ativ
e
Med
ium
,CO
2 em
issi
ons
impa
ct g
loba
lly w
hen
emitt
ed in
to th
e at
mos
pher
e, in
depe
nden
t of
the
loca
tion
of th
e em
issi
on
Hig
h, th
e ph
enom
enon
of g
loba
l w
arm
ing
has
been
dis
cuss
ed
and
mod
elle
d ex
tens
ivel
y
No,
Sou
th A
frica
doe
s no
t hav
e an
y gr
eenh
ouse
gas
redu
ctio
n re
quire
men
ts s
ince
it is
cla
ssifi
ed
as a
dev
elop
ing
coun
try.
Impa
ct o
f nat
ural
gas
le
akag
e on
su
rrou
ndin
g en
viro
nmen
t lea
ding
to
an
expl
osio
n.
Neg
ativ
e Lo
w, m
anag
emen
t sys
tem
s ca
n be
put
in p
lace
H
igh,
with
app
ropr
iate
m
aint
enan
ce p
lans
the
impa
cts
may
nev
er o
ccur
No,
sin
ce th
e po
tent
ial i
mpa
ct c
an
be m
anag
ed b
y th
e de
velo
pmen
t an
d im
plem
enta
tion
of a
ppro
pria
te
mai
nten
ance
pla
ns.
Ta
ble
5.11
: D
ecom
mis
sion
ing
phas
e po
tent
ial i
mpa
cts
Po
tent
ial I
mpa
ct
Stat
us
Sign
ifica
nce
Deg
ree
of c
onfid
ence
Po
tent
ial F
atal
Fla
w
Non
e id
entif
ied
N/A
N
/A
N/A
N
/A
C
oega
Int
egra
ted
Pow
er P
roje
ct: E
nvir
onm
enta
l Scr
eeni
ng S
tudy
Fi
nal R
epor
t, F
ebru
ary
2004
- C
onfi
dent
ial
page
5-1
3
IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS
CHAPTER 5
5.9 Specification of environmental thresholds The environmental thresholds that apply to this proposed project have been detailed in Section 5.4 of this report. A summary of the legislated and voluntary requirements is listed below:
Ambient air quality guidelines as specified under the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act (No. 45 of 1965);
Ambient air quality standards as specified under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Bill (No. 63 of 2003);
Emission guidelines and ambient air quality guidelines as specified in the World Bank Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook: Thermal Power – Guidelines for New Plants;
The Shell Group’s Kyoto commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
Ambient air quality and emission requirements as specified by the Coega Development Corporation, based on the conditions of establishment and for the Coega IDZ.
5.10 Recommendations for project planning and design Sand and dust are readily carried aloft during windy conditions in the Coega area. Examples of PM10 concentrations exceeding air quality guidelines are not uncommon. This condition has been observed to be worse when the surface is disturbed by construction activities (Ecoserv, 2001). This fact makes it imperative that dust generated through the construction activities of the Coega Integrated Power Project is minimised through focused management and adherence to dust minimisation practices. The dust management plan should include the following:
Where vegetation exists, removal of vegetation is to be limited to only what is necessary to accommodate construction activities and pipeline and transmission line routing.
Spraying of unpaved site roads, terraces and access roads with water (possibly sea water) routinely throughout construction to contain dust and to serve as a wetting or binding agent.
Traffic control measures to limit vehicle-entrained dust from unpaved roads e.g. by limiting vehicle speeds and by restricting traffic volumes.
Use of a motorized sweeper or vacuum vehicle on surfaced roads, to reduce the presence of sand.
Re-vegetation of the construction areas and pipe trenches once all of the construction is completed, and when the laydown area is vacated.
Coega Integrated Power Project: Environmental Screening Study
Final Report, February 2004 - Confidential
page 5-14
IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS
CHAPTER 5
Coega Integrated Power Project: Environmental Screening Study
Final Report, February 2004 - Confidential
page 5-15
It was not possible to quantify the potential impact of NOx emissions from the CCGT power plant. Therefore, it is not possible to assess the potential impact on human health and other biotic components in the environment. As such, it is recommended that dispersion modelling and a human health risk assessment is undertaken during the environmental impact assessment phase of the project. The only other recommendation pertaining to the planning and design of the operational phase of the project is that the introduction of a quality system (e.g. ISO 9000) and an environmental management system (e.g. ISO 14000) must be investigated. 5.11 Recommendation for baseline monitoring The CDC have established an air pollution monitoring network within the Coega IDZ along the axis of prevailing synoptic winds. It is recommended that the network is expanded to include NOx monitoring equipment. In addition, it is recommended that a new monitoring station is located within the Coega IDZ to measure ambient NOx concentrations resulting from the CCGT power station under the light north-northwest winds (i.e. poor dispersion conditions).