20170413101321307-cdbfe3c3a7e72875.pdf

This internal Eskom memorandum from November 21, 2016, provides legal advice on whether the utility can redact (sever) specific information from records requested by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). The request concerns a pre-feasibility study into extending the lifespans of several power stations.

• The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) requested records regarding a pre-feasibility study authorized by the Eskom board around April 2016 to explore options for extending the lifespans of the Arnot, Camden, Hendrina, Kriel, and Komati power stations.
• Eskom's Legal and Compliance Department advised that while names of employees or officers of a public body generally do not enjoy protection under PAIA when relating to their official functions, Eskom may still attempt to sever these names from records and wait to see if the requester challenges the decision.
• The legal department recommended severing estimated costs for the Hendrina Power Station LifeEx Study, arguing that such financial and commercial information could harm Eskom's interests or put the utility at a disadvantage during contractual negotiations or commercial competition.
• Regarding pricing information in the Task Instruction Fleet Renewal Project and Task Order 598, the legal department noted that because the contract is already in place, it is unclear what probable harm disclosure would cause, making it unlikely that Eskom could successfully defend a challenge to severing this data.
• The legal department advised severing slide 5 of the Presentation on Generation Fleet Renewal Strategy because it contains financial information regarding coal costs that may be subject to future negotiations with suppliers.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). 20170413101321307-cdbfe3c3a7e72875.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/20170413101321307.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. 20170413101321307-cdbfe3c3a7e72875.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/20170413101321307.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=20170413101321307-cdbfe3c3a7e72875.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/20170413101321307.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsnd20170413101321307cdbfe3c3a7e72875pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{20170413101321307-cdbfe3c3a7e72875.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/20170413101321307.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }