Proposed pebble bed modular reactor
Issues and Impacts of an Economic Nature
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- Impacts of a Biophysical Nature
- Technical or suitability impacts (i.e. Impacts of environment on the Plant)
Issues and Impacts of an Economic Naturei. Impact on Spatial Planning (Land use, air use and sea use)
Chapter 4.4. of the Social Impact Assessment (Annexure 11 page 52) provides a comprehensive account of the projected spatial planning impacts related to Koeberg NPS and the proposed Plant.
The proposed PBMR Plant will fit into the existing footprint for Koeberg without affecting the Annual Authorised Discharge Quantities. The fears of some members of the planning authorities in the Western Cape provincial government or the City of Cape Town, is unwarranted, since the Plant will not imposed additional restrictions on development. Because of the inherent safety characteristics of the Plant, it may in the long term be beneficial to the sub region, in terms of more conservative emergency planning requirements.
Provided that the 400 meter exclusion zone is observed no further mitigation is required. ii. Impact on Tourism
Chapter 4.5. describes the approach and results of the Tourism survey that was conducted for the proposed Plant. The main findings were that:
A repeat of the tourism survey in year two of operation. iii. Impact on Supply Side (and Energy) Management
Chapter 4.6. describes Eskom’s generation supply capacity and demand side objectives for 2002. While the proposed Plant will make a limited contribution to Eskom’s nett generation capacity, its purpose is to demonstrate its techno-economics. This will inform the National Energy Policy, which will then guide the future use of the technology. Eskom furthermore has set realistic targets for demand side management, which will be of mutual benefit to the user.
The proposed Plant will have a two fold positive impact on the environment. Firstly it will marginally contribute to generation capacity and secondly it will inform the IRPP, which will guide the future application of the technology.
Nil iv. Impact on Employment, Economic Potential & Markets for a Local Based Nuclear Industry
Chapter 4.7. provides broad employment figures for the proposed Plant’s construction (1 400 temporary jobs) and operation (40 permanent jobs) The construction workforce will largely be recruited from the local area where sufficient capacity and skills exists. Operational staff will be sourced from Koeberg and the South African market, as far as highly experienced professionals are concerned.
The proposed Plant (if approved) goes some way in retaining science and engineering skills and thereby support the national objective on science and technology. Under a commercialisation scenario these objectives will be further supported and the up and down stream economic benefits will be of a significant nature i.e. foreign investment and earning, skills training and retention as well as manufacturing. Note : * = A rating of 3 is given since the information is based on market information and not firm orders.
a. PBMR Plant
b. Multi Orders for the Technology
v. Life Cycle Costing
Chapter 4.8. gives account on how Eskom will make financial provision for the full “Life Cycle” of the proposed Plant. Allocations from sales on the capital portion and fuel cost will be placed in a fund to respectively finance the decommissioning and long term storage of spent fuel. This approach is in line with International practice and norms.
Assured mechanisms have been established to build the required segregate funds for decommissioning and long term spent fuel storage.
Impacts of a Biophysical Naturei. Effects of Thermal Outflows on Marine Life (Fauna & Flora)
Chapter 4.9. provides on overview of the research findings and conclusions of the effects of thermal outflows, entrainment and chlorine dosing on marine fauna and flora resulting from the proposed Plant and the Koeberg NPS thermal and effluent releases.
The nett findings were that no directly attributable effect was expected. Since the proposed Plants thermal release will only increase the maximum nett temperature of the thermal plume by 0.39°C at outflow volume of 83.7m3/s (Koeberg 82.0m3 and Plant 1.7m3/s) no significant impact is foreseen or predicted due to the dynamic mixing in the coastal zone.
No additional mitigation is required. ii. Effects of the proposed Plant on Terrestrial Wildlife
Chapter 4.10. provides a brief overview of the Plants’ site, which will be located on an already disturbed area within the outer security boundary area of Koeberg NPS. No significant impact is thus foreseen in terms of fauna and flora species. Measurements of environmental media for radiological levels related to Koeberg emissions, indicate no build-up.
The proposed Plant will not significantly affect the terrestrial fauna and flora of the site during construction or normal operation.
The construction site must be fenced off, to prevent free roaming antelope from enter into the area. iii. Effect of the Plant on Archaeological/Paleaontological Characteristics of the Koeberg environment
Chapter 4.11. gives a brief description of the archaeological/palaeontological attributes of the Eskom Koeberg property. Since none of the existing archaeological sites will be affected by the Plants’ proposed site, impacts will be insignificant. During excavation of the building foundations (below 22 meters) archaeological and palaeontological discoveries may be made.
Notification of the relevant authority(ies) South African Heritage Resources Agency, Cultural Historical Museum, etc) for investigation and further direction of construction work pending the value of the material(s). iv. Noise impacts from the proposed Plant
Chapter 4.12. provides the result of a baseline survey on current ambient noise levels emanating from Koeberg NPS, wave action, the residential area of Duynefontein and traffic. While some 50% of the recorded levels (day and night time) exceeded the prescribed limits these exceedances were related to traffic and wave action. Day time noise levels from the Koeberg NPS were within recommended Noise Level Ratings. The expected noise level rating of the proposed Plant is however not known.
The proposed Plant building design must take cognisance of the noise factor and reduce noise levels as far as possible through acoustic design. v. Visual Impact from the proposed Plant
Chapter 4.13. analyse the visual attributes of the area from various vantage points and distances for travellers and tourists. Since the architecture and material finishes of the Plant building will harmonise with that of Koeberg NPS and the surrounding environment, and, given the relative size of the building compared to Koeberg NPS it is anticipated that the change in visual character will re-manifest over time (1 – 2 years after commissioning).
The initial visual impact will be noticed but this will be of a temporary nature for the observer, until the new “landscape” has manifested. The building design and finishing will blend with the existing structures and the environment.
Screening of the observation positions, with well planned and design indigenous tree/shrub vegetation screens. vi. Waste Impacts from the proposed Plant
Chapter 4.14. provides data on the volumes of various wastes from the proposed PBMR Plant. Conventional waste from construction (excavation spoil, seepage water, concrete, wood, metal, cables, glass etc) and operational activities will not cause significant environmental impact. Radiological wastes/discharges from operation, maintenance and decommissioning however, will be carefully managed, monitored, shielded, stored and disposed of.
Conventional wastes will not have a significant impact on the environment. Radiological waste will not have a significant impact on the environment provided that the safety procedures are adhered to and kept ALARA
Technical or suitability impacts (i.e. Impacts of environment on the Plant)i. Geotectonic Suitability of the Koeberg Site and Geological Province
Chapter 4.15. describes the geological and seismic characteristics of the site and sub region. The study concludes that the site is stable and that the maximum peak ground acceleration (PGA) for an earthquake will be 0.27g on the proposed site, based on historically measured and calculated data for the sub region. An event of this nature, although never experienced at Koeberg, is therefore probable, with a high intensity (natural or man-made function/process temporarily or permanently altered) but of limited duration (from a few seconds to days due to and after shock waves). This impact will affect the design and operational phases of the Plant.
Since the Reactor and critical components will be located on aseismic bearings that can withstand a PGA of 0.4g no damage to such components will occur. In such an event the power station will be shut down and inspected for damage. Should the helium circuit be breached the helium gas containing radioactive gases/and materials will be released to the reactor building compartment from where it will discharge through the HVAC system. The volume will be restricted to the escaped volume of the helium gas that has moved through the reactor till the isolation system becomes functional (i.e. on both the helium circuits and reactor building compartment).
Public exposure levels have been modelled and assessed by the applicant, as part of the Safety Analysis Report and will be evaluated by the NNR for licensing purposes. The Safety Procedures and Programmes, as required by the NNR, must be implemented. ii. Hydrological and Geohydrological Suitability of the Site
Chapter 4.16. provides a description of the hydrology of the site and sub region. During construction the excavations will be subjected to continuous seepage (due to a shallow water table, i.e. -5.0m) of a saline nature, which will be pumped out to the sea. The resultant impact will be of low environmental significance. During normal operation all radiologically contaminated effluent are isolated to specific systems, secured, shielded and treated. However in the event of an accidental release, the effluent will be restricted to the primary aquifer and movement will be towards the sea where it will be diluted. An event of this nature is improbable (as demonstrated by design and monitoring data) with a medium intensity (some reversible process damage may have occurred) and of short duration (Detection will be rapid or may take some days where after clean-up and intensive monitoring will be done). This issue will affect the design construction and operational phases of the Plant.
No boreholes or wells used for human or industrial consumption will be affected or compromised.
Monitoring of groundwater quality to establish a representative (about 2 years) pre-operational baseline database. Establishment of permanent monitoring wells up and downstream from the Plant, that must be monitored on an approved regime (frequency) and for specific constituents (radiological and non-radiological parameters). iii. Meteorological Conditions of the Koeberg Region
Chapter 4.17. provides a description of the meteorological (climate) conditions of the Koeberg region as well as equipment to continuously monitor weather conditions. While extreme climatic conditions (temperature, rainfall, wind and fog) will not impact on the Station, inversion conditions (air stability) can influence emissions dispersion and dilution and thus public exposure to such emissions. Emission dispersion is however dealt with under demographic impacts (Chapter 5.3.5). During construction wind speed and direction (southerly) may present a nuisance impact since soft excavated material may blow onto the Koeberg Station. Such impact will largely be restricted to the site and it is unlikely that the public will or may be affected. Climatic conditions will influence the design, construction and operational phases of the Plant.
The combined effect of unfavourable climatic conditions and abnormal (category C event) radioactive releases are dealt with in Chapter 4.
The Koeberg weather station is sufficiently equipped (with back up) to provide data and analysis to the proposed Plant during normal and upset conditions.
Emission releases should consider climatic conditions and be effected only when sufficient dilution and dispersion can occur to limit human/environmental exposures. iv. Oceanographic conditions around the Koeberg Site
Chapter 4.18. provides a description of the physical oceanographic conditions of the marine environment around Koeberg. Adverse conditions (re-entrainment of the hot water plume and oil slicks) are monitored and contingency procedures are in place to deal with such eventualities. This issue will impact the design and operational phases of the Plant. While both events have the same severity rating (duration x intensity) the natural extreme phenomena is improbable while the adverse conditions are probable.
It is concluded that the terrace height of the proposed Plant as well as the existing stilling basin and seawater intake structure for Koeberg is sufficiently located and designed to cope with extreme tidal waves (tsunamis) and extreme low tide conditions (Seiches). Sea water temperatures and the dynamic mixing (currents) of the sea water body are also such that thermal outflows from the proposed Plant, in addition to that of Koeberg, will be sufficiently dissipated.
The existing contingency procedures are sufficient to deal with the adverse conditions namely:
vi. Thermal Discharge Chapter 4.19 provides information on the projected temperature rise due to the additional outflow from the proposed Plant and concludes that the impact on marine life will be negligible. The largest impact will be on zoo- and phytoplankton but due to the localised nature of the impact and the dynamic characteristic of the Atlantic Ocean the impact is regarded as insignificant. vii.Population Density (Demography) in the Koeberg sub region
Chapter 4.20. provides information on the population distribution around Koeberg up to a plus 50km radius. The information is based on updated census figures for 2001 and 2006, which include both permanent and transient (tourism) populations. Demographic information is relevant for the calculation of peak and average public exposure levels for various events (i.e. category A, B and C events) and emergency evacuation plans as may be required by the NNR. The NNR will determine the exclusion zone distance for the PBMR as well as the evacuation zone for the Plant. The Plants’ designers postulate that the evacuation zone for the proposed Plant will be 400 meters with no further emergency planning requirements beyond that distance. The NNR will also assess the motivation of the statement and if satisfied, will approve a licence. The SAR evaluation should however, include consideration of the likelihood of simultaneous accidents at stations (i.e. Koeberg NPS and the proposed PBMR Plant) and the cumulative radiological impact of such an event(s).
Worst case event exposure levels from the PBMR will be very low and it is expected that the PBMR Plant will not impact on the Koeberg NPS limits.
Radiation protection programmes and the ALARA principle must be implemented and regularly reviewed for conformance and/or improvement. vii. Infrastructure Status (.e.g. Roads, Harbours, Residential areas, Utilities and Services)
Chapter 4.21. provides an overview of the status of the infrastructure in the Koeberg sub region. These relate to:
The information serves a two fold function, namely:
The largest impact on the capacity of infrastructure will be during the construction phase of about 24 months with a peak construction workforce of about 1 400 persons. Most of the construction workers will however be sourced locally with the result that the impact on housing will not be to critical. No temporary residential area for construction workers is planned for either. The more significant impact will be on traffic for the transport of material, equipment and people. Traffic and emergency services may have to be supplemented for this purpose, especially in and around the Koeberg area. For the operational phase 40 employees will be required. In year 20 of the Plants’ operation a mayor maintenance program will be conducted which also involves the replacement of the reactor column. This programme will again cause the influx of maintenance workers. Decommissioning/dismantling will require a similar workforce to construction.
Utility upgrades should be planned and conducted in close co-operation between Eskom and the Cape UniCity (CUC) to optimise long term benefit to the society. The construction work force must, as far as practicable, be sourced locally. Traffic and emergency services capacities have to be supplemented during construction and such need must be planned and implemented in close co-operation between the project proponent (Eskom), the City of Cape Town and local authorities.
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