Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/4437
Title: | Environmental impact assessment for the proposed fifth power development project Malé City Kaafu Atoll, Maldives |
Authors: | Sandcays |
Keywords: | Project description Alternatives Legislative and regulatory considerations Existing environment Stakeholder consultations Environmental impacts Mitigation measures Environmental monitoring |
Issue Date: | Nov-2015 |
Citation: | Sandcays. (2015). Environmental impact assessment for the proposed fifth power development project Malé City Kaafu Atoll, Maldives. Male': Maldives |
Abstract: | This report discusses the findings of an environmental impact assessment for the construction
and operation of the proposed 54MW power plant in Hulhumalé, Malé City under the
proposed Fifth Power Development Project to provide a suitable power grid for the Greater
Malé Region.
This project is proposed by State Electric Company Ltd. (STELCO), an entirely state-owned
and operated company. STELCO has over 700 employees working in the greater Malé region
and twenty five outer islands. The total generating capacity in Malé and outer islands is
approximately 29,622kW and 19,543kW respectively. With the exception of borrowings for
the construction of major projects, such as the Third and Fourth Power System Development
Project, STELCO finances its capital works and operations from its own revenue.
The power demand in Malé has increase by 7 percent per annum within the last five years.
From 2002 to 2012 no major capacity addition was installed. Instead smaller generators were
installed to make up for the shortfall. These generators are high-speed generators and have a
high maintenance requirement and low reliability. The operational life of a generator set is 25
years, hence by the year 2020, almost 16.5MW (DG1 to DG5) of generation capacity would
have retired. The maximum power demand in Malé by the year 2018 and 2020 is expected to
rise to 73MW and 85MW respectively.
In order to cater for the rising demand, considering retiring of old generators, a new power
project needs to be started by 2015 and is expected to complete in 26 months. Hence
STELCO has formulated the Fifth power Development Project. This project will include the
installation of 6 × 9MW diesel generators and other relevant accessories by the year 2018 to
meet the current electricity demand in Male’.
These generators will be designed and installed to operate using light fuel oils. The project
will also include the installation of 4 LFO storage tanks of 800m3 and a seawater cooling
system. The new generators will also be equipped with exhaust gas boilers to provide the
steam required for the desalination plant and pipes to reduce the parasitic electric load of the
powerhouse. The project site has been relocated to Hulhumalé which was initially planned to
build in STELCO’s existing area in Malé. There are a number of negative environmental impacts of the project. However, there are also
several benefits associated. The main benefit being that the existing concerns of air and noise
pollution as a result of existing power house in Malé being in mixed residential, institutional
and recreational area of Malé would be addressed. Noise is a major factor while some air
pollution issues have been recently associated to some extent with the powerhouse under
worst case meteorological conditions. Therefore, the relocation would help to eliminate such
social concerns. As has been identified in the 2006 EIA for the Fourth Power Project, lack of
space in Malé has been a major drawback on future expansion of power grid for Malé.
The use of LFO will also help to minimize emissions. The proposed facility would also have
improved fuel handling and management.
Environmental monitoring is an essential component of the EIA process. However, this has
been poorly practised in the Maldives and needs to be strengthened for the benefit of greater
environmental performance of projects in the future. Therefore, monitoring has been given
emphasis with a comprehensive monitoring programme involving noise and air emissions as
well as the ground and marine water quality.
Given that the project has several environmental benefits compared to current practices and
especially current location, the project can be allowed to proceed as proposed. It is also
important to STELCO to consider future expansion involving sustainable energy systems
such as hybrid systems with solar energy. |
URI: | http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/4437 |
Appears in Collections: | ތިމާވެށި Environment A
|
Items in Saruna are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.