Latest news with #constructiondelays
Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Dion George gives go ahead for new 4 000MW nuclear plant
Green groups warn of risks, including soaring upfront costs, the history of construction delays and budget overruns Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister The minister's decision, announced on Friday, came after he resolved under section 43(6) of the National Environmental Management Act (Nema), to dismiss the appeals from various environmental organisations, and confirm the environmental authorisation to Eskom for the planned 4 000 megawatt power station in Duynefontein. The proposed project is adjacent to the existing George said that he had carefully reviewed the environmental impact assessment report, as well as the 'In the end, my decision was made in respect of the principles of [the Act] … and with full appreciation of the environmental, social and economic considerations involved,' the minister said. The original decision to grant the environmental authorisation was made in October 2017. Various appellants challenged the decision, submitting appeals that ranged from comprehensive and detailed submissions to shorter, individual objections. George's decision does not automatically grant Eskom permission to begin with the construction or operation of the nuclear power station. The state-owned power utility is still required to obtain several additional statutory authorisations before proceeding in accordance with section 24(7) of Nema. 'As per section 24(7) of [the Act], the granting of an environmental authorisation does not exempt an applicant from complying with any other applicable legal requirements or obtaining permits from other competent authorities,' noted George. These authorisations include a nuclear installation licence from the National Nuclear Regulator; approval from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa; water use licences from the department of water and sanitation; as well as other relevant approvals such as those from the minister of mineral and petroleum resources. George emphasised that the protection and preservation of the country's environment is non-negotiable. He said his department supports the country's transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future 'where inclusive growth, job creation and poverty reduction are central'. Earthlife Africa is considering George's decision, as well as its next steps, said Lekalakala, the director of the non-profit environmental organisation. 'Our concerns include the length of time taken to conduct the environmental impact assessment and to make the appeal decision,' she said. 'We are also deeply concerned about the In addition, there has been no assessment of the socio-economic impacts of a major beyond-design-basis nuclear incident, nor of the generation of long-lived high-level McDaid, the strategic lead of the Green Connection, another non-profit, agreed. 'In recent months, we've seen a 'We are in the middle of a climate crisis, and we should be using our abundant natural resources, such as solar and wind, which can be built quickly and deliver affordable power to homes. Nuclear is expensive, and, like other large projects, is plagued by long delays.' Nuclear power also carries significant risks, requiring costly additional regulation, 'and there is always the possibility of an accident'. 'Even after 40 years of operation, South Africa still has no proper plan for managing toxic nuclear waste — a huge problem that is often ignored in discussions about this dangerous technology … Right now, in the absence of an inclusive, people-centred energy plan, it appears that vested interests are driving individual projects without public consensus.'
CBC
14-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Why this new Montreal bridge is the subject of a $14M lawsuit
The City of Montreal is suing an engineering firm and an architecture company. The city alleges design flaws led to construction delays and cost overruns for the newly-built Jacques-Bizard bridge in the West Island.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
NS Power now expects Ruth Falls dam refurbishment to cost $15M
Nova Scotia Power says the refurbishment of a dam in Sheet Harbour – which was originally expected to cost $7.2 million – is now estimated to run up a $15.4-million bill due to environmental permitting and an extended construction timeline. The utility submitted an authorization to overspend application to the Nova Scotia Energy Board, seeking approval for an extra $8.2 million for the Ruth Falls Main Dam Refurbishment Project. The board originally approved the project in May 2019. In its written decision Wednesday, the board said it would hold the application in abeyance until the utility gets the Fisheries Act authorization from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The board says an amendment to the federal Fisheries Act received royal assent in June 2019. The changes required Nova Scotia Power to receive authorization from the DFO for the Ruth Falls project. 'In December 2019, NS Power submitted a review request to DFO for its proposed Ruth Falls main dam refurbishment work,' the decision reads. 'In March 2020, the Utility received a response from DFO outlining significant additional work required based on DFO's conclusion that the proposed activities were likely to harm fish and fish habitat, necessitating an FAA under the new Fisheries Act. In response, NS Power submitted an FAA application to DFO in June 2020. 'The Utility subsequently received four 'incomplete' submission letters from DFO between August 2020 and September 2023, each requesting additional information from NS Power. According to NS Power, each letter contained requests and requirements that had not been requested in earlier DFO correspondence. NS Power's most recent FAA submission was on February 28, 2025.' The utility told the board the work to obtain the environmental permits from the DFO, the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change, and Transport Canada's Navigation Protection Program constitute $4.4 million of its $8.2-million request. The utility said the need to address additional environmental permits extended the construction timeline, which increased project costs by roughly $2 million. The utility also said the costs related to archaeology and Mi'kmaq engagement added $400,000 to the project. According to the decision, Nova Scotia Power had a consultant assess the design of Sheet Harbour Hydro System's water retaining structure in 2015. The report found the Ruth Falls main dam, which contains three generating units with a total capacity of 7.2 MW, required 'corrective action.' The dam, which was built in 1925, has an 8,000-foot power canal and a spillway that stretches 1,190 feet. The refurbishment project is expected to extend to the life of the dam by 50 years. The Nova Scotia Power website says the upgrades to the dam include: building a new steel walkway platform along the length of the dam improving the upstream fishway resurfacing the concrete spillway surface replacing 30 stoplog bays with seven rubber dam sections The utility's current project timeline says it will start refurbishment of the dam in July and wrap up next March. Nova Scotia Power told the board the cost of decommissioning the dam is an estimated $84.5 million. The board said once the utility receives authorization from the DFO, it can submit an amended authorization to overspend application. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
