Basic Assessment Report - Transnet

Transnet LimitedProposed RO Plant: Port of SaldanhaFinal Basic Assessment Report6 Activity Need and Desirability 10Transnet have obtained authorisation (DEAT Ref: 12/12/20/237, 4 August 2006) forthe handling and export of up to 45 million tons per annum (mtpa) of iron ore at theiron ore handling facility, and studies are currently being undertaken for proposed(Phase 2) upgrades to the facility which would allow for an increase to 93 mtpa. Interms of the Record of Decision (RoD) for the Phase 1b expansion of the facility(which authorised the upgrade from 38 to 45 mtpa) all ore stockpiles (includingfuture/new stockpiles) must be sprayed with water in order to suppress dust.Additionally, transfer points in the bulk handling process of the iron ore also requirewater to be sprayed to reduce dust generation.Currently the municipal water supply allocates approximately 34Ml/month for Portactivities (including dust suppression), and usage at the iron ore handling facility hasin a number of instances exceeded this allocation. It is projected that 1200m³/day ofpotable water (1 RO module) is required to meet the immediate dust suppressionrequirements and a total of 3600m³/day potable water (3 RO modules) is required forfuture dust suppression needs at the iron ore handling facility.The iron ore handling facility is situated within the West Coast District Municipality(WCDM) of the Western Cape which is a water scarce area and municipal waterallocations are limited and controlled. Due to the increased water requirement, andthe fact that fresh water is a scarce resource in South Africa (especially within theWCDM), Transnet have identified that an additional water source (other than themunicipal water supply currently providing the iron ore handling facility) is requiredin order to fulfil the present and future dust mitigation requirements at the iron orehandling facility.Currently a number of other methods of dust suppression, (thus reducing the amountof water required) are in place and include:• Conveyor covers to shield ore dust from wind;• Road surfacing to allow for sweeping and cleaning to reduce dust agitation byvehicles;• Adding dust suppressing surfactant at tippler buildings; and10Section 32 (2) (f) of the NEMA EIA Regulations states that an environmental impact assessment report must include “adescription of the need and desirability of the proposed activity and identified potential alternatives…” However, judgment ina recent case (Fuel Retailers Association of South Africa, June 2007), essentially highlights the need to separate town planningcriteria from those relevant to environmental decision-making and requires that:• The concept of need and desirability has to be considered from a town planning perspective; and• The concept of sustainable development has to be considered from the perspective of the environmental authorities(Smith, Ndlovu, Summers, undated case note).The motivation in this section is based on information provided by the proponent and the project planning consultants and isdeemed to constitute a discussion of the need and desirability of the project.25Prepared by the PDNA/SRK Joint Venture