Eskom commits billions to a cleaner Future

Power utility Eskom is stepping up its efforts to reduce pollution, with plans to spend R15.6 billion over the next five years on projects to cut harmful emissions from its power stations.

Earlier this year IOL reported that Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Dion George, granted the power utility “limited emissions exemptions” to eight Eskom coal power plants.

George has also previously criticised Eskom for "consistently failing to meet minimum emission standards and delaying crucial energy reforms", pointing out that South Africans have endured rolling blackouts, rising costs, and economic stagnation due to Eskom’s inefficiencies.

"The government cannot grant Eskom a blanket waiver to continue polluting without accountability," George said at the time.

According to the power utility it has already invested over R3 billion in emissions reduction projects, with R15.6 billion allocated over the next five years.

"To date, Eskom has invested over R3 billion in emissions reduction projects, with R15.6 billion allocated over the next five years," Eskom said.

"However, achieving Minimum Emission Standards (MES) compliance by 2030 will require ~R257 billion in capital investment and ~R6.3 billion in annual operating costs which will have a significant impact on Eskom and add up to ~10% to the electricity tariff,"

"Given the current trajectory of future non-compliance, 22GW of capacity is at risk of being shut down due to SO₂ non-compliance post-2030".

Eskom also noted significant progress in reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions across its fleet.

"While Medupi and Kusile are equipped with low-NOx burners. In 2019, Camden Power Station was successfully retrofitted with this technology. Additionally, Eskom has installed flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) technology at Kusile Power Station to reduce sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and is planning to retrofit the same system at Medupi Power Station".

Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom’s Group Executive for Generation said the the utility was committed to meeting environmental regulations through continuous monitoring, and transparent reporting.

“We are committed to meeting environmental regulations through continuous monitoring, transparent reporting, and proactive plant upgrades,” Nxumalo said.

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mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za

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