HERE’S A “WORKING PLAN” HOW THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT
CAN:
Create “SUSTAINABLE JOBS”
Eliminate “POVERTY”
Reverse “WATER SHORTAGES”
This PLAN is “Rapid-Results” and is Based
on Science, and Practical Engineering.
OVERVIEW:
The Central Thrust of this PLAN is to Harness the
“Green-Energy” force of the “Agulhas Current” which flows day and
night, all year round – down the East Coast of South Africa.
The Site for this “Capturing and Harvesting” of
this mighty energy, will exist in two places:
On-Shore: On the Beachfront Area – midway between
East London and Durban
– and –
Off-Shore: Directly Opposite – and within our
twelve-mile, “State-Owned
Territory” Limit.
THE POWER SOURCE:
This marvellous, “GREEN-ENERGY” POWER-SOURCE … Available
24 / 7 … 365 Days a Year! – called the “Agulhas Current” –
runs roughly Southwest, on the edge of the East Coast of South Africa – at a
speed, in certain places, of around 5 Knots … that’s the
equivalent of a determined, full-on, “Jogging-Pace”. The raw force of this current
is sufficient that “savvy” Ships-Captains deliberately steer clear of it, while
travelling Northwards off our East Coast – avoiding the current’s head-on,
“speed-impeding” effect … and on their South run, they deliberately
steer into its awesome torrent – to augment their ship’s speed, by adding
the speed of the current to it!
THE MAIN PURPOSE FOR THIS PROJECT:
The main and abiding purpose of harnessing the Agulhas
Current, is to generate electricity in quantities great enough to convert – through
desalination – enormous and continuous amounts of sea water into fresh
water, which we will use to Augment our Finite, Fast-Diminishing, “natural”
supply of fresh water, by “topping-up” our country’s dams and reservoirs.
Integrated within this purpose, is the “Creation of
Sustainable Jobs” – and the “Eradication of Poverty”, which providing these
jobs, will enable. The implementation of this vast Plan, will be “highly
labour-intensive” – providing employment for Literally Millions of our
people!
Of Importance at the Outset! … I wish to
emphasise, that my urging that we generate electricity, using the “Agulhas
Current” as the prime-mover, IS NOT intended to “compete” with Eskom … NOR,
to “compete” with other, proven and operating, “green energy” systems, such as
Wind / Solar / etc … NOR even, at this stage, to add the
resultant generated-power, to the National Grid. - Quite the opposite!
THE METHODOLOGY:
Our entire purpose must be to use this natural,
green-energy source, as a “stand-alone” Electricity-Generation System,
to power exclusively, the operation of any number of “on-shore” Desalination
Plants – as many as we need build – the essential purpose of which –
let’s remind ourselves once more – is to augment our country’s finite,
and precariously diminishing, fresh-water resources – predicted to be “in
short supply”, within 12 years time!
Additionally – that same electricity supply will be employed
to drive Pumping-Stations across our land – which will push this
newly-desalinated, fresh water, through pipelines leading to our countrywide,
dams and reservoirs, to “top them up” …
And as much as the amount of Free “take-off”
available to us from the Agulhas Current, is absolutely endless … so
too, is our decision without limits – as to the number of “Vessels” we
employ in the harnessing of this power, as that will simply be “as many as
are needed”.
“So?” – you ask – “How’s it all going to work?” Let me
invoke Albert Einstein’s appropriate saying, here … “Imagination Is
Everything!” … and I ask you please, to fully utilise Your imaginative
capacity – as you participate in my “Scenarios” I will build here – which most
certainly will require more “fine tuning” by a team of “Engineering
Project-Managers”, toward their “final go-ahead”, for implementation. The
“revision” of plans laid, is a natural and evolutionary process in any
discipline. So do feel free, please – Afterwards! – to associate your
own, “better-working” ideas, with mine.
Meanwhile … here’s MY “Vision”:
Remember, please, that at Every Step along the way, everything
we will build – will man – and maintain … will largely be done by
“The Presently Unemployed” folk in our country!
While we solve our Water Shortages, we are simultaneously
going to create Millions of Sustainable, Meaningful JOBS! – and Put
an End to POVERTY!
Also to bear in mind – given the enormity of the Project, in
size and scope – and that the “Off-Shore Sites” for our ‘Vessels’ will be
within our territorial limits of 12 miles, making it “State-Owned Property” –
is the fact that this will of necessity be a “Government Enterprise”. But no
doubt, it will prove an attractive “partnership” with Government – for the
Private Sector, and / or Overseas Investors.
THE “CURRENT-HARNESSING” MECHANISM:
We are not the only folk to turn to ocean currents and
tides. This is fortunate, as there has been much research done by others, into
the best mechanisms to employ for the purpose. For instance – the United States Naval Academy
has perfected a propeller to capture the useful force of relatively slow-moving
water like the Agulhas Current – the design being based on the tail-features of
the Humpback whale. And given Our Own Navy’s positive reciprocity with their
American counterparts, we should have no difficulty in asking them to share
their research and designs with us, so that we can create the very best
“current-capturing” propellers to use in our own Project.
The pressure of the sea-current on the blades turns the
propeller – which is then “harnessed” to other mechanisms, to produce useful
work. And in “My Own Vision”, this translates into the individual propeller, either
directly driving an electricity-generator, and sending the resultant power onshore
by way of suitable power cables, to the Desalination Plants … or … directly
driving powerful pumps – sending seawater through a pipeline, immediately from
the “vessel”, onto the land.
In the First Instance here, the “cabled“ electricity
will drive land-based pumps which extract water from the ocean, and pass it on
to reservoirs where it can “settle”, and from which the Desalination Plants
will draw their constant supply for processing into fresh water.
In the Second Instance above, the seawater coming
ashore in the pipeline, will also enter the reservoirs … but on its
way there, it will first be directed through the intakes of Hydro-Electric
Generators, the power from which, will be used to operate the desalination
plants. Another purpose to which the reservoirs can be put, during their
operation, is that they can possibly be co-opted into use as “Seawater
Fish-Farms” – useful to feed the workers! Further inland, this same
enterprise, can be employed to create “Fresh-Water Fish Farms”
THE KIND OF “VESSELS” WE NEED TO WORK WITH, IN THE
AGULHAS CURRENT:
In my opinion, our ideal “Vessel”, is an “Oil-Rig” – Especially
Adapted to our Project’s use.
An Oil-Rig is designed and built to be stable, and withstand
the most violent seas – it can be anchored so well, it will not be dislodged
from its position – it can be moved, when and if required – it has all the
“crew-comfort” facilities one can wish for – it has, already built in, all the
mechanisms to keep it “self-contained” – it has a helicopter landing pad, for
ferrying in supplies – and most importantly – it has lifting gear already
fitted … but in our instances, we will be raising and lowering our
Propellers … instead of “oil-drilling” mechanisms!
Why, we would need to easily move our Propellers up
and down, is a matter of “preventive maintenance” – e.g. – if we have a “pod” of,
say, 6 Propellers on a rig … 5 should always be operating “down below” –
and one, pro-rata, hoisted up for routine inspection and service.
Remember this, as you employ your creative, innovative
imagination … while envisioning these scenarios I’m painting here … we
can have just as many of these “rigs” of ours, as needed, working
continuously in the current – either singly, or in concert – depending on what
predetermined duties and results are expected of each of these units.
Singapore
is a part of the world which has “Renowned" Builders of oil rigs – ready
and willing to “take orders” – and for them to custom-build the kind of
“rigs” we need, will be a pushover – since they are already in this specialised
business!
PARTIAL LIST OF ON-SHORE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES WE WILL
NEED …
Includes the Desalination Plants themselves … enormous
engineering workshops of every possible description: pumps,
pipelines, “underwater-engineering”, storage facilities for engineering
supplies, workers’ accommodation, administration buildings, etc/ etc.
WHERE ARE THESE KINDS OF EQUIPMENT & ANCILLARY
SERVICES AVAILABLE?
A useful resource you can explore for this, is an internet
site called “TradePub.com” who have available, literally hundreds of specialist
publications – “MarineLog” and their weekly Newsletter, being one I
have subscribed to – which has been very useful in the research of this
document.
But naturally, we should “try local”, before we go abroad
for our needs – assuming always of course, that “local” has kept up with
the latest advances in their respective fields!
ADDITIONAL “JOB-CREATING” FACILITIES WHICH WILL BE
REQUIRED:
Seeing that the “newly-fresh” water, needs to be moved
around the country, we will need pipelines to be laid, pumping-stations to be
erected, roads to be built, tunnels to be dug, additional reservoirs to be
built, earthworks to be performed – the list goes on and on …
And so massive and involved will be the Project, that over a
relatively short time, the support-base for the Onshore Site cannot help but
become a Whole New Town – (“Azania”?) – The
design of which can be of totally African Origin – and can be planned for – and
work commenced on it – utilising our presently unemployed, from first
“get-go” of this Project.
It should be blatantly evident that “JOB CREATION” …
Skilled and Unskilled … is in “full-swing” here! – for the Long-Term
Benefit of south Africa and its Peoples!
LET’S LOOK NOW AT THE “DESALINATION” PLANTS:
Not to bore you with the details – take it “as read” that
I have “looked around” pretty well – and finally I have come across a company
which seems way out in front of all the others, in that they have
developed methodologies which are much more efficient and effective.
Look them up on the internet: “Plus Technologies IP
Holding GmbH” – and see what I mean. Along with that, they are a German company
– so, we can have high expectations!
An important instance of their advanced thinking is this
that they have methods for processing the “residual sea-salt” from the
desalination process, into some of its natural, Constituent Chemicals – which
have the following useful and saleable features – making what would
otherwise be a “bothersome waste-product”, into a thriving profit-centre:
Purified Brine – for industrial applications
Purified Table Salt – for human consumption and food
manufacturing processes
Magnesium Hydroxide Powder – used in waste-water
treatment and flame retardants
Calcined Gypsum Powder – used in large quantities in
the Construction Industries
So its Evident … Such a desalination-plant will more
than cover its “board and lodging”!
SO … WHERE IS THE COASTAL SITE FOR THE DESALINATION
PLANTS TO BE?
The ideal site must obviously be opposite that
particular length of the Agulhas Current, where – as near as possible –
this “desirable permutation” exists …
A) the Agulhas Current is closest to the shore,
B) it is as near the surface as possible,
C) and is running at its strongest, fastest, speed.
That will be where – in the ocean – our
current-harnessing “rigs” will be working. And opposite that – on the coast
– will be situated the Desalination Plants.
I have an impression, from satellite images I've accessed
during Internet searches I've made, that this area might be somewhere
between 30 to 35 degrees latitude -- between East London and Durban ... but
hey! -- That’s just an assumption on my part!
What is needed, to help take the "guesswork" out
of it – is much more qualified opinions. Perhaps the South African Navy’s
“Hydrographic Survey” Department, and the “CSIR”, who have made a survey of the
Agulhas Current.
WATER SHORTAGES:
Our “natural” potable water-supply, is being Outstripped
by Demand. So all we’re really doing with “conservation and management”, is
– “Putting Off The Evil Hour!” … until our natural water-supply can
no longer cope – and we run short … We have to Urgently AUGMENT our
Fresh-Water Supply, through the
Desalination of Sea Water! – And distribute it, Countrywide!
BUT HAPPILY! … Because that whole process – from implementation –
to distribution – to ongoing maintenance – will be hugely LABOUR-INTENSIVE; therein
exists the ADDITIONAL Solution!! – That of providing Sustainable EMPLOYMENT
– for Literally Millions!
Anyone imposing a “good reason” for the Solution herein, NOT
to be applied – should either have a “better plan” … or take the
full blame for their choice of the “Looming Consequences” they’re allowing
to be visited upon us! TIME is not on our side! Let’s not be “part of
the problem” through our INACTION!
Let’s safeguard our future! … Let us together, “take
the pain away” from the country of South Africa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prepared by Concerned South African Patriot – Len Stevens
– January, 2012. 3 Oxenham Court, Sangrove, Rondebosch 7700 – Cape Town,
Western Cape, South Africa – 021-689-5430 – 082-738-1246 lenstevens@telkomsa.net
This draft is edited and abridged - Stafford
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE ORIGINATOR OF THIS PLAN: (First Draft was
prepared in December, 2009).
My name is Len Stevens. I am a South African Patriot. My
first career was that of a Marine Engineer Officer in the Merchant Navy
– so I am personally familiar with the Agulhas Current – and the
practical “Mechanics” of the Project are within my expertise to discuss.
Intermittently over the last 5 years, I have studied the
feasibility of harnessing the Agulhas Current, for the good of my
Country – and developed this “Operational Plan” which – while being altogether
practical and achievable – can be put into immediate effect, simply “By
Government Edict” – the site of it, as already mentioned, being on
“State-Owned” property. The immediate “implementation” of this PLAN Is Vitally
Important! – to relieve the festering discontent of the myriad
unemployed of our Country, by providing Millions of Meaningful,
Sustainable Jobs – and in the process? – constructing a completely-new
Town. Important! I do not have nor seek any Personal Role in the Implementation of this Project.
