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Nuclear reactor at Thyspunt—some thoughts....

Thyspunt, some 6 Kilometers from Oyster Bay, is one of the appointed sites where South Africa’s and probably the world’s next nuclear reactor could be built starting September 2009. The reactor envisaged will be a 4000 Mw conventional one. The reasons why Thyspunt is one of the earmarked possibilities is because there is a geologically sound sub-structure there to protect an installation against earth tremors. It is also well placed to provide the Southwestern input to the national power grid. Then there is the increase in power consumption needed for the Coega harbor development. The Aluminum smelter to be built there will consume a massive amount of electricity which has to be guaranteed by Eskom.

The communities around Thyspunt seems to have vastly differing attitudes towards the reactor.

St Francis Bay  and Cape St Francis seems to have a strong Anti-nuclear movement. The main resistance seems to be born from fear of nuclear energy and damage to the environment and indigenous plant and animal species. They plead for the use of hydro, wind and solar type energy and for consumers to use more energy efficient electrical appliances.

Oyster Bay seems very positive about the whole issue on average. There is the perception that nuclear power has grown a lot and is used safely world wide. That property value will probably increase in a similar manner as what it did around our other nuclear reactor at Koeberg. Eskom has already indicated that the area around the reactor will be protected and that walking trails etc. will be made. A fair number believe that it could help to get our road tarred. Residents are looking forward to more visitors using Bed and Breakfast establishments as well as self-catering houses and flatlets. The capping of expansion within a certain radius also seems like an excellent idea for keeping Oyster Bay from becoming spoilt by development. It is also believed that crime will be better controlled near a nuclear facility and squatting not allowed because of the strategic importance and the need to protect it from terrorism.

The bottom line seems to be that the ‘truth’ is somewhere between or a combination of all these views.

Eskom has already stilled many of the fears raised in meetings held at Oyster Bay, Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay and lately St Francis Bay. Some of the issues they addressed was:- Warming of the sea surrounding the reactor, effect on property prices, effect on fishing industry, possible radius affected by reactor for development, conservation issues. The most important thing was that it was strongly emphasized that the whole environmental impact assessment process will be open to all for input and that all issues raised will be addressed.

My gut feeling is that we will have to accept certain economic and energy facts, as explained by the boffins. The most important contribution we can make to this process is to be involved and to keep updated regarding the process. The easiest place to do this is at the Eskom website page where there is a very complete ongoing report about the whole environmental impact assessment process. To visit this website, click here.

 

Below is a map from the Eskom site indicating the locality of the proposed nuclear site.