Issued by: Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
PRESS RELEASE: MINISTER OF SPORT AND YOUTH AFFAIRS ENTRUSTED WITH SOLAR ENERGY: NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE: PROF DR JJ HENNING
SUNSET AT SALDANHA OR SUNRISE AT SICHEN?
Fast moving developments in new solartechnology may make the Saldanha iron ore smelter proposal obsolete before it is built. The ore for Saldanha is to be mined at Sishen, in the Northern Cape Province. But the exceptional solar electricity potential in the province could provide an exciting win-win solution to the whole Saldanha controversy by allowing the smelter to be located next to the mine in Sishen.
Currently, Northern Cape Province is beginning a feasibility study of a integrated energy infrastructure proposal. This includes new Australian solar steam powerplant technology which has the potential to provide clean grid connected electricity on a large scale to the region.
The investigation has not yet been directed to smelting. It is currently focussed on new agricultural developments such as early season export quality grape production in the lower Orange River area. A solar powerplant could provide electricity to drive irrigation pumps along the river, and fuel industry and local employment expansion. It would also export power back along the grid, reducing grid upgrade requirements for the region and reducing losses caused by importing power from distant Eastern Transvaal. Waste heat from he plants could also be used for other purposes such as controlled drying and refrigeration. There is the potential for at least two 35 Megawatt plants in the region associated with the agricultural development.
But the technology is easily multiplied to much larger sizes. Modular solar power is a much superior option to constructing a big nuclear powerplant on the North West coast, because cost is likely to be lower and because expansion can be done in increments with short lead times according to more accurate short term demand predictions. New solar capacity could be built out of current ESKOM income without borrowing. Moreover, the plants can be easily sited where they do the most good, environmentally and socially.
The Saldanha smelter controversy is a case in point. By 2001, construction of a large solar power station could begin, not at Saldanha, but near Sishen, possibly using mothballed turbines from conventional powerplants to save cost. Smelting would be carried out at the point of mining. Depleted ore could be left in the area, and returned to the ground. Employment would be created inland where most needed, transport costs of ore would be dramatically reduced, and coastal pollution at Saldanha would be avoided.
The smelter / powerplant complex could be built in stages. When complete, the operation would provide a clean, leading edge model for mining which could be used around the world.
The Northern Cape Province has the potential to become an industrial electricity powerhouse of the future, with solar electricity attracting power hungry industry to the region and supplying a significant fraction of future national power requirement.
The mating of clean solar technology and regional development is being investigated by Professor Jozef Henning, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs entrust with solar energy in the Northern Cape Province Government. He was recently visited by the Vice-President of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), Dr. David Mills, and Prof. Dieter Holm, Chairman of the ISES Africa Regional Secretariat ISES wishes to promote the project as an ISES 2000 Strategic Project of exceptional in Holm will speak on the proposal at the biannual ISES Congress in Harare next week. He says: "We wish to see a range of solar technologies like this being used in an integrated manner for social and regional development, with the current off-grid community photovoltaic power effort by ESKOM also being expanded because of its high community benefit."
Dr. Mills is currently developing suitable solar steam powerplant technology aimed at powering the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He and Prof. Holm have also met with ESKOM, who are very interested in the concept. According to Dr. Mills, "This is an opportunity to link several important technical developments such as Australian solar technology, and ESKOM low impact dry cooling tower technology. In a long term project like a smelter, we have to look at future trends; there will be a strong future premium market for 'clean steel', and eventually, other metals. The use of clean power will increase ingot export market value while realising many social benefits."
Minister Henning agrees: "The combination of environmental gain, export market advantage, and regional development is too compelling to ignore. Whatever the outcome of the Saldanha court case, we are in favour of proper and detailed evaluation of this new proposal. We see no need to rush into the Saldanha project, which for decades into the future could environmentally damage a rich province and economically disadvantage a poor one. I call on ISCOR, ESKOM, and the RSA Government to assist the Government of Northern Cape Province in the creation of a comprehensive development plan for the smelter which will deliver the optimal social, economic, and environmental outcome."
Contact Person: Provincial Minister: Prof DA JJ Henning Tel (0531) 814 934 Fax (0531) 814 925