What does Bantamsklip have in common with Fukushima and Olkiluoto in Finland

Fukushima nuclear precinct in Japan

Olkiluoto nuclear precinct in Finland

WE COULD FIND OURSELVES WITH THREE EPR TYPE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AT BANTAMSKLIP OVER THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS IF THE GOVERNMENT HAS ITS WAY

We would like to quote from the current EIR Draft document: Volume 1. Main Report, concerning the present status of Bantamsklip and the other preferred nuclear sites.

"After due consideration, Eskom decided not to pursue an application for the construction of more than one nuclear power station in this EIA. However, in line with Eskom’s intention to pursue up to 20 000 MW of nuclear power generating capacity, an application for the second nuclear power station may be submitted by Eskom soon after the submission of the Final Environmental Impact Report for Nuclear-1. This application is therefore progressing as per the original application for authorization of a single site."

It should be understood then, that Eskom tried unsuccessfully to apply for approval to build on all three sites, Duynefontein, Bantamsklip and Thyspunt, within one EIA. Now, far from celebrating Bantamsklip’s new ‘least preferred option’ we find the situation far worse than previously expected, and I quote further from the same document;

"Eskom proposes to construct a Nuclear Power Station, referred to as Nuclear-1, consisting of a combination of units with a total capacity 4 000 MW and associated infrastructure for location at one of three potential sites. Similar power stations to Nuclear-1 are proposed for the remaining two sites in the future. The area of the footprint assessed in this EIA makes provision for the potential future expansion of the power station, to allow for a total capacity of approximately 10 000 MW."

So Eskom seeks approval, for a 10.000 MW site (previously 4.000 MW) Now our dilemma, in accessing the impacts, is that the actual plants have not been specified yet, but the output generation has, and given that the latest Areva (the preferred manufacturer's) European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) currently under construction in Finland at OLKILUOTO, has an output of 1.600 MWe

Four EPR's will produce in order of approx. 6.400 MWe of output power, of the 10.000 MW asked for - per site, if they used the latest Avera EPR's. Heaven forbid, trying to generate the full 10.000 MW presently applied for, again, per site.What will the impacts of these proposed nuclear plants (together) be, on the terrestrial and marine environment adjacent to Bantamsklip, from the emmissions and thermal discharges of near boiling water, biocides scouring (chlorine), sediment and spoil transfer, Strontium 90 emissions and sub aquatic noise.