Final Scoping Report July 2002
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: Proposed establishment of an aluminium smelter within the Coega Industrial Development Zone, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Final Scoping Report July 2002 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: Proposed establishment of an aluminium smelter within the Coega Industrial Development Zone, Port Elizabeth, South Africa FINAL SCOPING REPORT JULY 2002 For Authority Review Report compiled by Paul Lochner, Frauke Münster, Rob Hounsome, and Sarah Davies, CSIR Sandy Wren, Sandy and Mazizi Consulting ALUMINIUM PECHINEY PAS 2005 SMELTER PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT The Final Scoping Report forms part of a The Final Scoping Report is available for series of reports and information review by authorities prior to a decision documents that will be issued during the being made by the Eastern Cape environmental impact assessment process provincial Department of Economic Affairs, for the Aluminium Pechiney PAS 2005 Environment and Tourism (DEAE&T) on project, which proposes the construction whether to: and operation of an aluminium smelter within the Coega Industrial Development · Issue an authorization to undertake the Zone. activity with or without conditions; · Require that the information in the The Final Scoping Report includes Final Scoping Report be supplemented environmental issues and concerns by an Environmental Impact Report; identified by specialist consultants and · Decline the application. Aluminium Pechiney, as well as those raised to date by the public and authorities Although not available for public comment, through a series of public meetings, the Final Scoping Report can be viewed networking and focus group meetings, an by the public on the Internet at open day and from written http://smelter.csir.co.za as well as at the correspondence. The following information following libraries: was provided to stakeholders in order to facilitate the identification of environmental Nelson Mandela Metropole Libraries: issues and concerns: Govan Mbeki, New Brighton, Motherwell, Zwide, Newton Park, Walmer, Chatty, · The Draft Scoping Report (this was West End, Despatch, Uitenhage, sent to key stakeholders, and made KwaNobubhle, Gelvandale, KwaMagxaki, available in local libraries and on the KwaZakhele, Linton Grange, University of Internet for a period of three weeks PE, Vista University and PE Technikon from release); Cape Town: UCT Government · A Question & Answer Booklet (sent to Publications Department all stakeholders on the database). · Summary of the Draft Scoping Report The terms of reference which have been (sent to all stakeholders on the defined for the specialist studies are an database). important outcome of this Scoping study. · A website (http://smelter.csir.co.za) These were developed based on technical which provided links to relevant sites scoping inputs from specialists, Aluminium which provide further information. Pechiney and the EIA team; and the public and authority Scoping process. All stakeholders were invited to comment on the Draft Scoping Report and raise additional issues and concerns. PROPOSED ALUMINIUM SMELTER WITHIN THE COEGA IDZ, PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA SCOPING STUDY FOR EIA : FINAL SCOPING REPORT PAGE I ALUMINIUM PECHINEY PAS 2005 SMELTER TABLE OF CONTENTS PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT ..........................................................................................................i TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................ii LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................................iv LIST OF FIGURES ...........................................................................................................................iv DEFINITIONS ..................................................................................................................................v ABBREVIATIONS..........................................................................................................................viii 1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................1 1.1 Background............................................................................................................1 1.2 Rationale for the project..........................................................................................1 1.3 The requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment....................................1 1.4 Objectives of the Scoping Report............................................................................2 2. INTRODUCING ALUMINIUM PECHINEY....................................................3 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT..........................................4 3.1 The Coega Industrial Development Zone................................................................4 3.2 Selection of the Coega IDZ as a potential site for the aluminium smelter................6 3.3 Proposed location of the aluminium smelter within the Coega IDZ..........................7 3.4 Overview of the Aluminium Pechiney PAS 2005 project.........................................8 3.4.1 Import and storage of raw materials............................................................9 3.4.2 The potline................................................................................................10 3.4.3 The carbon plant and rodding shop...........................................................12 3.4.4 The casthouse..........................................................................................13 3.4.5 Export of aluminium ingots........................................................................13 3.5 Associated infrastructure requirements.................................................................13 3.5.1 Electricity supply.......................................................................................13 3.5.2 Port facilities.............................................................................................13 3.5.3 Transport infrastructure.............................................................................14 3.5.4 Water supply.............................................................................................14 3.5.5 Housing....................................................................................................14 3.6 Workforce required for the project.........................................................................14 3.6.1 Construction workforce.............................................................................14 3.6.2 Operation workforce..................................................................................15 3.7 Project schedule...................................................................................................15 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT................................16 4.1 Introduction...........................................................................................................16 4.2 Location................................................................................................................16 4.3 The biophysical environment................................................................................16 4.3.1 Climate.....................................................................................................16 4.3.2 Geology....................................................................................................17 PROPOSED ALUMINIUM SMELTER WITHIN THE COEGA IDZ, PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA SCOPING STUDY FOR EIA : FINAL SCOPING REPORT PAGE II ALUMINIUM PECHINEY PAS 2005 SMELTER 4.3.3 Water resources.......................................................................................17 4.3.4 Vegetation................................................................................................17 4.3.5 Fauna.......................................................................................................18 4.3.6 The marine ecosystem..............................................................................19 4.4 Socio-economic environment................................................................................20 4.4.1 Employment and human development......................................................20 4.4.2 In-migration...............................................................................................20 4.4.3 Infrastructure and services........................................................................21 4.5 Economic activities...............................................................................................21 5. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS......23 5.1 Roles and responsibilities of roleplayers in the EIA process.................................25 5.2 The focus of the EIA.............................................................................................26 5.3 Consideration of alternatives................................................................................27 5.4 The Scoping phase...............................................................................................29 5.4.1 Objectives of the Scoping phase...............................................................30 5.4.2 Key components of Scoping.....................................................................30 5.4.3 Steps in the Scoping phase......................................................................33 6. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED