{"query_echo":{"q":"","filters":{"climate_tags":["coal beneficiation"]},"warnings":[{"code":"facet_value_not_in_vocabulary","message":"Value 'coal beneficiation' for facet 'climate_tags' is not in the controlled vocabulary."}]},"total":{"value":1,"relation":"eq"},"page":1,"page_size":20,"self":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?climate_tags=coal+beneficiation","stability":"beta","ai_marking":{"digital_source_type":{"uri":"http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/digitalsourcetype/trainedAlgorithmicMedia","name":"Created using Generative AI"},"notice":"Summary and key insights are generated using artificial intelligence."},"results":[{"id":"cer-001292","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/cer-001292","title":"record-13.1-pg-37-51-e5c649172c49ed28.pdf","publisher":{"name":"Centre for Environmental Rights","organization":"centre-for-environmental-rights"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":null,"source_url":"https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-13.1-pg-37-51.pdf?x21779","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"This document is an excerpt from Eskom's Air Quality Strategy (Unique Identifier: 32-1143), detailing the company's approach to ambient air quality monitoring, atmospheric dispersion modelling, stakeholder engagement, and research. It outlines specific emission targets for existing power stations, a retrofit plan to meet Minimum Emission Standards, and a strategy for coal beneficiation to reduce emissions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001292#summary","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Eskom has established specific emission targets for existing power stations: particulate matter must be less than 50 mg/Nm³ for stations under 35 years old; sulphur dioxide must be less than 3500 mg/Nm³; and oxides of nitrogen should be less than the minimum NOx emission standard for existing plant (1100 mg/Nm³) for stations under 35 years old, where technically feasible.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001292#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"To comply with new Minimum Emission Standards, Eskom is implementing a phased retrofit plan. This includes installing fabric filter plants at Tutuka, Kriel, Matla, Grootvlei Units 2, 3, 4, Duvha Units 4-6, Lethabo, and Matimba; flue gas desulphurisation at Medupi and Kendal; and low NOx burners and over-fire air at Majuba, Duvha, Tutuka, and Kriel.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001292#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The financial and resource requirements for retrofitting six stations with fabric filter plants, four with low NOx burners, and one with FGD are estimated at a CAPEX of R28 billion (in 2009 real terms) and an annual OPEX of R0.4 billion once operational. These retrofits will require 500,000 tons of sorbent per annum and result in a capacity loss of 160 MW.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001292#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"Eskom's ambient air quality monitoring strategy includes maintaining SANAS accreditation and ensuring real-time data availability. The network is reviewed every three years, and stations may be decommissioned if no significant impact from a source is measured for three consecutive years. The cost to purchase equipment and housing for a station measuring SO2, NO, and PM10 is approximately R600,000, with annual operating costs of R400,000.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001292#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"Eskom is exploring coal beneficiation—specifically removing the \"stone\" fraction (>2 g/cm³)—as a cost-effective alternative to retrofitting boilers. This process is intended to improve combustion efficiencies and reduce emissions of SO2, NOx, CO, and particulates, as demonstrated at Lethabo Power Station.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001292#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-08-17"},{"text":"The air quality research programme, which had a budget of R8.3 million in the 2009/10 financial year (excluding coal beneficiation and research monitoring stations), focuses on emission control technologies, atmospheric dispersion modelling, and atmospheric deposition. A key focus is developing a framework to monitor the long-term impact of emissions on soils, surface waters, and ecosystems in the Lephalale region and the Highveld.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"cer-001292#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-08-17"}],"climate_tags":["energy transition","air quality","emission reduction","coal beneficiation","pollution abatement"],"geography_discussed":["Highveld","Waterberg","Vaal","Lephalale"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["strategic plan","technical report"]}]}