Thyspunt nuclear site at risk of seismic activity, Eskom concedes
Power utility Eskom on Friday conceded that hazard assessments for the proposed Thyspunt nuclear site were accurate, and that its own assessment had already identified that the area was seismically active 10,000 years ago. Business Day reported that a geological study had concluded that it would be almost impossible to safely construct a nuclear power station at Thyspunt, near Jeffrey’s Bay, because of deep canyons in the bedrock hidden by sand and soft rock. Thyspunt, 90km from Port Elizabeth, is one of Eskom’s three sites identified for possible construction of a power station — and is now the preferred site. In 2015, Eskom applied for nuclear installation site licenses for Thyspunt and Duynefontein in the Western Cape. The study, by the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Africa Earth Observatory Unit, also concluded that the area was at risk of storm surges as a result of climate change, and that it risked devastation from tsunamis. "That work was incorporated in the Thyspu...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.