- This is the second gas-to-power project refused authorisation in Richard’s Bay.
- The high negative impact on the ecosystem and environment and a lack of adequate mitigation measures were cited as grounds for refusal.
South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has refused the Environmental Authorisation to develop the 6.5GW Nseleni Independent Floating Plant (NIFPP). The Nseleni Independent Floating Plant (NIFPP) project includes the 2.8GW LNG receiving and storage facilities, power barge terminals and overhead cabling bridge for power evacuation to the National Grid.
The department notes that the project is set to have negative environmental impacts on the ecosystem and local communities with insufficient mitigation measures in place. The project’s Water Use License (WUL) was also refused as the dredging of the seafloor would also severely impact the marine ecology affecting the fishing communities and ecotourism sector of the local communities of Richard’s Bay. The project developers are currently appealing the decision and have 30 days to respond to each refusal.
Richard’s Bay currently has six gas power plants with a cumulative capacity of about 15GW. South Africa sees gas as a transition fuel, with several gas companies now leading the charge for more gas-to-power plants development.