Monday, July 02, 2007

Future of Athlone power station remains uncertain

By Rhodé Marshall
2 July 2007

Debates around the future of the Athlone power station remains continue as the landmark twin cooling towers could soon be taken out of service co0mpletely.

The coal driven station has not generated electricity since 2003.

Talks and suggestion have come about with proposals ranging from the demolition to the restoration of the towers as an historical site.

“The towers should be taken away within the next five years and residents will be seeing it disappear gradually,” says City of Cape Town Electricity and Lighting spokesperson Charles Kadali.

“The cooling towers are not included in the plans for the site and developments of it should bring excitement to the area,” says Kadali.

The towers also pose environmental and safety risks.

The city has recommended that the power station be reused. However this process is expected to take up to five years as the N2 and the residential areas needed to be taken into consideration.

A development probability study will be launched by the city to see what remainder of the site, land and equipment could possibly be reused by electricity services.

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