Nseleni Independent Floating power station
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Nseleni Independent Floating power station is a shelved power station in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Nseleni Independent Floating power station | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | -28.801119, 32.039684 (exact)[1] |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- 1, 2, 3, 4: -28.801119, 32.039684
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | CHP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shelved[2][3] | fossil gas: LNG[1] | 700[2] | combined cycle[1] | not found |
| 2 | Shelved[2][3] | fossil gas: LNG[1] | 700[2] | combined cycle[1] | not found |
| 3 | Shelved[2][3] | fossil gas: LNG[1] | 700[2] | combined cycle[1] | not found |
| 4 | Shelved[2][3] | fossil gas: LNG[1] | 700[2] | combined cycle[1] | not found |
CHP is an abbreviation for Combined Heat and Power. It is a technology that produces electricity and thermal energy at high efficiencies. Coal units track this information in the Captive Use section when known.
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nseleni Power Corp [100%][1] | Anchor Energy LNG Pty Ltd |
| 2 | Nseleni Power Corp [100%][1] | Anchor Energy LNG Pty Ltd |
| 3 | Nseleni Power Corp [100%][1] | Anchor Energy LNG Pty Ltd |
| 4 | Nseleni Power Corp [100%][1] | Anchor Energy LNG Pty Ltd |
Background
The plant has four power units with a generation capacity of 700 MW each.[4]
It is one of the six gas-to-power plants proposed in the Richard’s Bay Area. Other plants include: Karpowership Richards Bay power station (450 MW), Richards Bay (Eskom) power station (3000 MW), Phinda Power Plant (450 MW), Richards Bay Gas to Power Plant 3 (2000 MW), and Richards Bay Gas to Power Plant 2 (400 MW).[5]
It is planned to initially construct the plant with a 2800 MW generation capacity. Later on, the generation capacity will potentially increase up to 8400 MW. [6]
In March 2020, notification of Intent to develop NIPFP was published.[7]
In December 2020, Final Scoping and Environmental Impact Report was published.[6]
Opposition
In November 2021, the Environmental Authorization was denied, because of the “negative impact the mooring of the floating power plant would have on the area’s ecosystem and biodiversity, living in the water bottom would also be badly affected when silt and other material was removed.”[8]
In addition to the denial of Nseleni’s Environmental Authorisation, their Water Use Licence was later refused.[8] NSseleni appealed and this appeal process is still ongoing as of July 2024.
Environmental justice organizations such as groundWork, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), and Natural Justice have welcomed the EA denial decision.[8]
In the beginning of 2023, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) granted Nseleni an exemption to obtain a land consent (which was subsequently appealed), and also on 3 March 2023, granted an extension of EIA timeframes to enable them to resubmit it’s EIA.
In August 2023, resubmission of the Environmental Authorisation (EA) applications for the proposed Nseleni Independent Floating Power Plant and associated infrastructure, Port of Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.
The EA was granted in 2024 and the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) filed an appeal on the EA granted.
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20210908003016/https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/additionaldocs/Richardsbay%20Heritage%20NID_Final.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 08 September 2021.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20221209162241/https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/additionaldocs/01_NIFPP_Final%20Scoping%20Report_2020.12.11%20%281%29.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 09 December 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220708175015/https://lifeaftercoal.org.za/media/proposed-gas-power-plant-in-richards-bay-has-been-refused-environmental-and-water-approvals. Archived from the original on 08 July 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/additionaldocs/01_NIFPP_Final%20Scoping%20Report_2020.12.11%20%281%29.pdf" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on July 6, 2021.
- ↑ "South Africa: A Second Gas-to-Power Environmental Authorisation Is Refused for Richards Bay". allAfrica.com. 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 SAHRIS (PDF). 11 December 2020 https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/additionaldocs/01_NIFPP_Final%20Scoping%20Report_2020.12.11%20%281%29.pdf. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ SAHRIS (PDF). March 2020 https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/additionaldocs/Richardsbay%20Heritage%20NID_Final.pdf. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Langa, Lungi (2021-12-14). "GREEN WIN: Environment department blocks another gas-to-power floating plant". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of gas-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
