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 -28.80112, 32.03968 (exact)[1]

The map below shows the exact location of the power station.

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4: -28.80112, 32.03968

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology CHP Start year Retired year
Unit 1 shelved[2][3] liquefied natural gas[1] 700[2] combined cycle[1] not found
Unit 2 shelved[2][3] liquefied natural gas[1] 700[2] combined cycle[1] not found
Unit 3 shelved[2][3] liquefied natural gas[1] 700[2] combined cycle[1] not found
Unit 4 shelved[2][3] liquefied natural gas[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
Unit 1 Nseleni Power Corporation[1] Nseleni Power Corporation [100.0%]
Unit 2 Nseleni Power Corporation[1] Nseleni Power Corporation [100.0%]
Unit 3 Nseleni Power Corporation[1] Nseleni Power Corporation [100.0%]
Unit 4 Nseleni Power Corporation[1] Nseleni Power Corporation [100.0%]

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, and Karpowership appealed this decision. The EA 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]

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 decision.[8]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. 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. 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. 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)
  4. "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.
  5. "South Africa: A Second Gas-to-Power Environmental Authorisation Is Refused for Richards Bay". allAfrica.com. 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  6. 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)
  7. 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. 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.