Air pollution from Van Eck station ‘OK’

THE thick, black smoke rising from the coal-fired Van Eck power station in Windhoek for the past few weeks is no health risk, and within the acceptable limits of the World Health Organisation (WHO), says NamPower.

“NamPower took cognisance of the complaints by residents and businesses in proximity of that power station and understand their fear for possible health risks that the emissions can pose,” a NamPower advertisement placed in newspapers yesterday stated. Instead of calling a press conference to address these complaints, the company’s new Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager, John Kaimu, placed a small-print advertisement to state NamPower’s case.The chimneys at Van Eck have no pollution filters.Namibia also does not have any laws to regulate the emissions from factories and power stations.NamPower had to switch on the Van Eck power station a few weeks ago due to problems at Koeberg nuclear power plant in South Africa, from where Namibia receives about half of its electricity supply.Koeberg has two units generating 900 megawatt of power each, but one of them was damaged about two years ago by a loose eight-centimetre-long bolt was apparently forgotten after routine maintenance.This caused severe power cuts in South Africa.A new turbine had to be imported from France and was installed.After that was done, the intact unit had to undergo an overhaul for about three months.According to the NamPower advertisement, one of the two Koeberg units is again out of operation – until the end of this month.The other Koeberg unit will be offline again for three months from January 2008, according to the NamPower advertisement.This has necessitated NamPower to keep the Van Eck power station running even longer, before putting it back on standby mode.”In an effort to minimise smoke from Van Eck, a budget has been set aside to overhaul the cyclones of the power station.It does not have filters but makes use of cyclones,” the advertisement said.”Once completed, we expect a significant reduction in the carbon dioxide emissions and fall-out dust levels.”Instead of calling a press conference to address these complaints, the company’s new Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager, John Kaimu, placed a small-print advertisement to state NamPower’s case.The chimneys at Van Eck have no pollution filters.Namibia also does not have any laws to regulate the emissions from factories and power stations.NamPower had to switch on the Van Eck power station a few weeks ago due to problems at Koeberg nuclear power plant in South Africa, from where Namibia receives about half of its electricity supply.Koeberg has two units generating 900 megawatt of power each, but one of them was damaged about two years ago by a loose eight-centimetre-long bolt was apparently forgotten after routine maintenance.This caused severe power cuts in South Africa.A new turbine had to be imported from France and was installed.After that was done, the intact unit had to undergo an overhaul for about three months.According to the NamPower advertisement, one of the two Koeberg units is again out of operation – until the end of this month.The other Koeberg unit will be offline again for three months from January 2008, according to the NamPower advertisement.This has necessitated NamPower to keep the Van Eck power station running even longer, before putting it back on standby mode.”In an effort to minimise smoke from Van Eck, a budget has been set aside to overhaul the cyclones of the power station.It does not have filters but makes use of cyclones,” the advertisement said.”Once completed, we expect a significant reduction in the carbon dioxide emissions and fall-out dust levels.”