Transalloy power station
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Transalloy power station is a permitted power station in Emalahleni Municipality, Nkangala District, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Transalloy power station | Emalahleni Municipality, Nkangala District, Mpumalanga, South Africa | -25.893498, 29.11756 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- ': -25.893498, 29.11756
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology |
|---|---|---|---|
| permitted | coal: unknown | 135 | subcritical |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Owner | Parent |
|---|---|
| Transalloys Pty Ltd [100%] | small shareholder(s) [51.0%]; unknown |
Project-level captive use details
- Captive industry use (heat or power): power
- Captive industry: Other Metals & Mining
Project-level coal details
- Permit(s): Environmental Impact Assessment[1]
Background
Transalloys is a producer of silicon manganese. It proposed a coal plant of either 55 MW or 150 MW near its smelter complex in Mpumalanga province to provide electricity. The EIA was submitted in May 2015, and stated the company's preference for a 55 MW plant, although both options were assessed.[2]
A coal plant of 55 MW was approved in March 2016 for a period of five years, or until March 2, 2021.[3]
In June 2019, Transalloys submitted an amended EIA for the project for a coal plant of 120 to 150 MW.[3][4]
It appeared that new contact details for the permit holder were approved and an extension could have been granted. However, other amendments relating to the output capacity and layout of the facility were reportedly refused as engineering drawings for the updated layout had not been provided with the final motivation report. A February 2021 submission provided more context on the project, which appeared to have been refined to total 135 MW.[5]
A Motivation Report and additional authorization documentation related to an amended proposal were open to the public for comment from February 19, 2021 to March 23, 2021.[6]
On March 24, 2021, the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) Archaeology, Palaeontology and Meteorites (APM) Unit accepted the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) and the Palaeontological Impact Assessment (PIA) reports submitted to the case for commenting, and had no objection to the development going ahead under a few conditions.[7] On August 24, 2021, The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment approved the proposed amendment to the Environmental Authorization.[8]
In October 2023, Transalloys was reportedly undertaking a land remediation project at the proposed power station site as part of its environmental authorization.[9]
According to reporting from June 2024, the Transalloys smelter was facing “imminent closure” due to high power prices.[10]
Force majeure
In August 2020, Transalloys announced that it was cutting its silico-manganese production by about 30% in 2020 due to weakening market prices. The effect of Covid-19 lockdowns, high electricity tariffs, and adverse market conditions prompted Transalloys to adjust its silico-manganese production target. The company then declared force majeure after a fire at its plant on August 22, 2020 impacted the raw material handling system feeding its five furnaces.[11]
In July 2021, Transalloys declared a force majeure again in the face of ongoing unrests that "created major security concerns, effecting both the movement of people and supply chains." The protests reportedly erupted in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province after the High Court dismissed former South African President Jacob Zuma bid to have his arrest overturned.[12]
By the end of 2022, Transalloys appeared to be operating with an updated website.[13] In a February 2023 press release, the company was listed as a partner in a European Union-funded consortium for metallurgical industries. [14]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125080624/https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/additionaldocs/4.%2014-12-16-3-3-3-97-AM3.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "EIA," Transalloys, May 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Amended EIA," Transalloys, June 2019
- ↑ "Motivation for amendment of the Integrated Environmental Authorisation," Transalloys, June 2019
- ↑ "Motivation for amendment of the Integrated Environmental Authorisation," DEA Ref. 14/12/16/3/3/3/97 (amended), Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd, February 2021
- ↑ "Transalloys coal-fired Power Station," Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd, accessed June 8, 2021
- ↑ "Transalloys Coal-Fired Power Plant: Final Comment," South African Heritage Resources Agency, March 24, 2021
- ↑ "Amendment of the Environmental Authorisation issued on 02 March 2016 for the 135MW Transalloys Coal Fired Power Plant," Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, August 24, 2021
- ↑ "Proposed Establishment of the Coal-Fired Power Plant and Associated Infrastructure at Transalloys near Emalahleni, Mpumalanga," South African Heritage Resources Agency, October 26, 2023
- ↑ “Revival and ruin - a tale of two smelters,” Head Topics South Africa, June 25, 2024
- ↑ "Transalloys declares force majeure at manganese alloys plant," Metal Bulletin, September 1, 2020
- ↑ "Afro Minerals Trading declares force majeure due to civil unrest in South Africa," S&P Global, July 16, 2021
- ↑ Transalloys website, captured June 18, 2022
- ↑ "An international consortium works on a technological solution to become a game changer in the metallurgical industry in Europe," HAlMan, February 24, 2023
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
