‘Kusile pollution exemption: Fears over 'weak' controls, appeal likely’ 26 June 2023

A recent decision to allow Eskom to bypass pollution controls at Kusile temporarily is likely to be appealed. Over the weekend, Eskom issued a statement indicating that the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment's (DFFE) National Air Quality Officer had granted the power utility a postponement to meet minimum emissions standards for sulphur dioxide at its Kusile plant. The postponement applies from 5 June 2023 to 31 March 2025. Eskom had applied for the postponement following the collapse of a chimney or flue gas duct at Unit 1 of Kusile in October 2022. It subsequently impacted the operability of Kusile Units 2 and 3, and Eskom lost about 2 100 MW of generation capacity.

The application meant that Eskom would operate Kusile without the Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) technology – required to limit sulphur dioxide emissions. This is so that the power utility could bring the generation capacity online more quickly in a bid to reduce load shedding as the country battles an energy crisis. Eskom expects the repairs to the permanent stack or chimney to be completed by December 2024. Meanwhile, it is constructing temporary stacks for all three units, which will be completed by December 2023 – allowing it to operate these units without the FGD and reduce load shedding by two stages…Sulphur dioxide exposure is associated with respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis.

…But the Life After Coal campaign – which had made submissions during the public consultation process for the decision – has said that the mitigation measures Eskom must follow are "weak": The mitigation measures required are weak and general, and there are concerns about how fit-for-purpose they will be, on what basis they will be evaluated and how adherence will be enforced… As things currently stand, public health facilities in the area are woefully underequipped to deal with the air quality induced crisis in the region… Brandon Abdinor, acting programme head of pollution and climate change at the CER, which is also representing the Life After Coal campaign legally, said that it is likely they would file an appeal. The CER is waiting for a mandate from its clients to proceed.