The decision to install flue gas desulphurisation on Medupi Power Station: identification of environmental criteria contributing to the decision making process
Date
2010-08-11
Authors
Singleton, Tyrone C.
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Abstract
Survival of society has always been dependent on ensuring that a balance is
continually maintained between the variables of social needs, resources and the
environment. The difficulty is that these three elements are more often than not
in conflict with each other. Arguably without such conflicts environmental
decision making would be far simpler in the knowledge that the potential solution,
although not pleasing everyone would be capable of responding to a range of
ecological and economic concerns. Environmental decision making requires a
structured holistic approach that allows for the evaluation of alternative solutions
against an array of often conflicting objectives, although no specific decision
making structure is advocated multi criteria objective decision making provides a
means to achieve such ends. The methodology provides for the identification of
all objectives which are then used to evaluate alternative scenarios or solutions
against.
The following research report seeks to identify the environmental criteria that
would need to be considered as part of a multi-criteria decision making structure.
The report highlights the complexities and often conflicting elements that exist
even within the narrow scope of environmental objectives. All discussions are
made with specific reference to Eskom’s requirement to comply to future air
quality legislation and the potential requirement to install flue gas
desulphurisation technologies on its Medupi Power Station. Legislative,
technological, water and air quality issues are identified and explored as to how
they should be evaluated as part of the overall environmental decision making
criteria. Through the identification of the environmental criteria it is hinted that
Eskoms narrow mandate of electricity production at the lowest cost could
potentially prevent the organisation of fully engaging in a holistic decision making
process.