Thyspunt EIA ‘underplaying‘ chokka threat

THE Eastern Cape chokka industry is up in arms over what it labels a “biased and grossly inadequate” draft environmental impact assessment (EIA) report about the proposed Thyspunt nuclear power reactor.
The industry believes that, if accepted, the report could place at least 4000 jobs at risk and deal a major blow to an industry that annually contributes R500-million to the local economy.
The public participation process is nearing its end and concerns have to be raised by the end of this month.
There has been extensive debate among residents of Cape St Francis, St Francis Bay and Oyster Bay over plans by Eskom to build a pressurised water reactor at Thyspunt.
Furious chokka industry role-players believe the report “downplays the impact” the project could have.
Chokka industry representative and member of the SA Squid Management Industrial Association, Greg Christy, said his main concern was the lack of local expertise involved.
He said the report was done by Professor Charles Griffiths from the Marine Biology Research Centre at the University of Cape Town.
“He has made certain assumptions which indicate to us squid is not his specialist field and therefore the full impacts of the nuclear plant on the squid fishery have been incorrectly assessed or simply glossed over,” said Christy.
He said a squid scientific working group had been established by Marine and Coastal Management, but had not been consulted during the EIA process.
“Our concerns are that he does not address adequately and draw correct conclusions on the effects of 6.37 million cubic metres of sand which is to be pumped from an outflow pipe (if the power reactor is built) about 1.5km out to sea.”
The sand and suspended sediments are to be pumped from the excavation site via a pipe laid in a 1-2km long, 27m wide trench.
“Our concern is the construction of the trench and the pumping of the building spoil will render the whole area between Oyster Bay and Seal Bay an underwater desert with a 5-10cm layer of sludge on the sea bottom, which will discolour and stir up every time the swell or surge currents appear. The areas which are presently favourable for squid-egg attachment will be wiped out between Oyster Bay and Seal Bay.”
Christy said a report done a few years ago showed 32.3% of their catches occurred in that area.
He added after the construction phase warm water mixed with brine from the desalination plant would be pumped into the sea, with a maximum temperature increase of 3°C. This would affect the squid food supply and cause a subsequent decline in numbers. This could change the industry from an annual one to a seasonal one and put pressure on an area that heavily relies on the industry.
St Francis Bay educationist and energy activist Hilton Thorpe said this could be the “death knell” for the industry.
He said the draft EIA report had had so many inadequacies that a second draft would be prepared to reflect some corrections.
Eskom nuclear spokesman Tony Stott said it was “not surprising – in view of the extent and complexity of the studies” – that some reports might require updating to better reflect the scope and outcomes of the studies. YOLANDé STANDER