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A Research Report Proposal COAL FLY ASH WASTE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN POWER GENERATION SECTOR AND POSSIBLE RECYCLING OPPORTUNITIES: A CASE STUDY OF HENDRINA AND KENDAL POWER STATIONS School of Geography Archaeology and Environmental Studies Mbavhalelo Justice Ramagoma 1546679 A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg In fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies Supervisor: Dr Melanie Samson 31 May 2018 ABSTRACT South Africa will be dependent on coal for power generation for many decades to come, before a complete transition is achieved where more energy will be generated from non-fossil fuel sources. Through case studies of Hendrina and Kendal Power Stations, this study explored how the management of fly ash (FA) waste in South Africa can be improved to minimise its impact on the environment and human health and examined the potential recycling applications that can benefit local communities. The study drew insights from an environmental justice framework to examine the pollution impacts that FA is exposing to the local community. The environmental justice theory is based on the principle that all people have a right to live in an environment that enhances their wellbeing. Empirical evidence obtained from local community’s in-depth interviews revealed that FA is impacting on the health of communities by exposing them to respiratory and other illnesses and it is also affecting their livelihoods which primarily involves farming. A just transition theory was employed to examine potential socio economic opportunities that can be derived from FA recycling to fulfil redistributive measures that can reduce inequality and eradicate poverty in local communities. Some of Eskom’s power stations like Hendrina are nearing the end of their lifespan since their commissioning in the 1960’s and 1970’s. To aid a just transition, ash recycling was found to have the potential to address the socio economic situation of the power station’s employees and the local communities. The study found that local communities generally lack knowledge about coal ash recycling and need to be empowered and supported to partake in ash recycling ventures. The study argues that a shift in the ash recycling regime is needed in order to benefit local communities and facilitate a just transition to a clean energy production. I DECLARATION I, Mbavhalelo Justice Ramagoma, hereby declare that this dissertation is my own work except as indicated in the references and acknowledgements. It is submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies. It has not been submitted before for any degree or examination at this or any other university. .......................................................... Mbavhalelo Justice Ramagoma 31 May 2018 II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In gratitude I would like to acknowledge the following people for their support in the execution of this dissertation. I am very grateful to: Dr Melanie Samson for making my registration in the programme possible, supervision and for all the guidance that shaped the outcome of this dissertation. My wife, children, parents, grand-parents and my family at large for the invaluable support and inspiration all the years. Eskom colleagues and acquaintances including government officials for their support. Mr Anton Doda, late Mr Patrick Jacobs and affiliates from a Non- governmental organisation: The Highveld Environmental Justice Network for the support. Mr Craig Burne for the assistance with proofreading of this dissertation. Finally, to my employer Eskom for permitting me to conduct this research on some of their facilities and for all of their willing support. III TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................... I DECLARATION ............................................................................................... II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................... III ANNEXURES .................................................................................................. IX LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................... X LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................... XI LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ............................................. XII IV 1 CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION AND THE DEMARCATION OF THE STUDY ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 FLY ASH WASTE GENERATION ............................................................................................. 2 1.2.1 COAL ASH FORMATION AND CHARACTERISATION ........................................................ 2 1.3 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM ............................................................................ 4 1.4 RATIONALE OF THE STUDY .................................................................................................... 4 1.4.1 AIM OF THE STUDY .................................................................................................... 5 1.4.2 RESEARCH QUESTION AND SUB QUESTIONS ............................................................... 5 1.5 THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVE AND SECONDARY OBJECTIVES ................................................... 6 1.6 STRUCTURE OF THE DISSERTATION ....................................................................................... 7 2 CHAPTER TWO - BACKGROUND: UNDERSTANDING THE SOUTH AFRICAN COAL INDUSTRY AND COAL COMBUSTION FOR POWER GENERATION ............................................................................................. 9 2.1 COAL MINING OVERVIEW IN SOUTH AFRICA ............................................................................ 9 2.1.1 THE DYNAMICS OF COAL MINING IN MPUMALANGA HIGHVELD .................................... 10 2.1.2 COAL EXPORTS ....................................................................................................... 10 2.1.3 SOCIAL IMPACT OF MINING ....................................................................................... 10 2.1.4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF COAL MINING ............................................................. 11 2.2 COAL COMBUSTION FOR POWER GENERATION .................................................................... 12 2.2.1 THE IMPACT OF COAL ASH ON HUMAN HEALTH .......................................................... 14 2.3 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE COAL ASH HANDLING IN COAL FIRED POWER STATIONS ............ 16 2.3.1 COAL QUALITY ........................................................................................................ 16 2.3.2 ASH HANDLING ....................................................................................................... 17 2.3.3 ASH CLASSIFICATION AS HAZARDOUS WASTE ........................................................... 17 2.3.4 FLY ASH RECYCLING OPPORTUNITIES ....................................................................... 18 2.4 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF COAL ASH WASTE ......................................................... 18 2.4.1 THE IMPACT OF FLY ASH TO WATER RESOURCES ...................................................... 18 2.4.2 AIR POLLUTION EMISSIONS ...................................................................................... 19 2.5 GLOBAL WASTE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES ..................................................................... 20 2.5.1 WASTE MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA .................................................................. 20 2.5.2 LEGISLATION APPLICABLE TO THE ENERGY GENERATION SECTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA .. 22 2.5.3 APPLICABLE LEGISLATION TO COAL ASH HANDLING IN SOUTH AFRICA ...................... 24 2.6 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 25 3 CHAPTER THREE - LITERATURE REVIEW AND THE THEORETICAL CONCEPTS ............................................................................................... 26 3.1 THE ROLE OF COAL IN SOUTH AFRICAN ENERGY PRODUCTION .............................................. 26 3.1.1 THE ROLE OF COAL IN THE EVOLUTION OF A MINERALS-ENERGY COMPLEX ECONOMY . 27 3.1.2 THE ROLE OF COAL POWERED POWER STATIONS ...................................................... 29 3.1.3 MAJOR CONSTRAINTS ON TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM COAL .................................... 29 3.1.4 THE CLIMATE CHANGE CRISIS AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN POSITION ............................ 30 V 3.1.5 RECONFIGURATION OF THE ENERGY MIX IN SOUTH AFRICA ....................................... 31 3.2 DEBATES ON TRANSITION TO A CLEANER ENERGY PRODUCTION.......................................... 32 3.2.1 ECOLOGICAL MODERNISATION THEORY ................................................................... 33 3.2.2 A JUST TRANSITION THEORY .................................................................................... 36 3.2.3 GREEN ECONOMY THEORY ....................................................................................... 38 3.3 THE SELECTED THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK OF THE STUDY ................................................. 42 3.3.1 COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE .................................................................
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