Environmental consulting company Golder Associates head of the ecology division Danie Otto has completed his third search and rescue project for State-owned power utility Eskom's new Kusile power station, where hundreds of protected and endangered plant species have been preserved.

Golder Associates, in association with landscape specialist Smartyards, was contracted by consulting company Zitholele Consulting to conduct the search and rescue survey on the proposed route of the 21-km road and 28-km pipeline to be constructed at the new Kusile power station.

The positioning of Kusile power station, in Mpumalanga province, sees strict legislation being placed on the project regarding the local flora. The Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act stipulates that plant search and rescue of protected and endangered species should be conducted before starting any construction-related activity.

Golder Associates was commissioned to help Eskom comply with the conditions of the Act.

The proposed road and pipeline route crosses wetland areas, significant terrestrial landscape and sensitive rocky outcrop areas.

"The route surveyed was identified on a topographical map and through satellite imagery. A team of ecologists and experienced technicians formed a line to walk along the plotted points in the area. The formation of the line ensured that the larger area on the plotted points were covered, thereby reducing the possibility of species being overlooked," explains Otto.

As the scan proceeded, species were located and identified. The identified protected and charismatic species were then removed, placed in plastic bags with compost and transported to the nursery, which had been erected on site for this specific purpose.

A permit to collect and convey these plants for scientific purposes was issued by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency to the Golder Associates search and rescue team.

Fourteen species of possible importance were found on the road route site, of these species, seven were of protected status. Along the pipe route site, a total of ten species of possible importance were found, and of these species, four were of protected status. Lastly, two species were found at the camp sites, and of these species, one was of protected status. All the species that were classified and collected were relocated to the purpose-built nursery on the site.

Otto says that the nursery will be monitored on an ongoing and regular basis in order to maintain the condition of the rescued plants. It has been suggested that the pipeline and road route be monitored during construction, to enable the removal of any additional geophytes that may emerge.

"If there are species of importance that emerge outside the initial construction area, these species will be clearly demarcated with barrier tape so as to avoid damage caused by moving construction vehicles. It has also been suggested that after construction, plants be relocated in the rainy season and planted in an area with a suitable habitat," explains Otto.

Prior to this survey, Golder's ecology division was involved in environmental aspects relating to the power station in various ways, including wetland and aquatic ecological surveys, as well as baseline and environmental-impact assessments.

The company has also been involved in rare and red data species rescue for the power island and the Dhuva-Minerva transmission line diversion.

Kusile, which will be South Africa's first power station to have flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) installed, is Eskom's second most advanced coal project after its Medupi power station in Limpopo province.

FGD is a technology that is used to remove oxides of sulphur from the exhaust flue gases in power plants that burn coal.

"Eskom is fitting FGD to the Kusile power plant as an atmospheric emission abatement technology to ensure compliance with air quality standards. Construction activity at the Kusile site began in April 2008, with an estimated completion of civil works on June 1, 2013," Otto concludes.