PROPOSED RELEASE OF UNABATED SULPHUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM KUSILE COAL-FIRED POWER STATION

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, submitted a formal objection to the South African government regarding Eskom's proposal to use temporary bypass stacks at the Kusile coal-fired power station. This proposal would allow units 1-3 to operate without flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) pollution abatement equipment following a flue duct collapse in October 2022. The CER argues that the bypass would cause significant health damage and constitutional violations, suggesting instead that funds be redirected toward solar PV and wind energy to accelerate the coal phase-out.

• Eskom proposes a temporary solution to bypass the flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) plant at the Kusile power station following the October 2022 collapse of a 9-metre diameter flue duct for unit 1. This collapse rendered units 2 and 3 inoperable due to risks of further damage or a total chimney collapse. Eskom claims this bypass would restore 2160 MW of generating capacity, though the CER disputes this, noting the plant operated at approximately 33% capacity (700 MW) prior to the failure.
• The proposed bypass of SO2 pollution abatement equipment is projected to cause significant human health impacts and deaths. Based on projections from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), air pollution-related deaths would range from 195 (low utilisation for 13 months) to 1,362 (high utilisation for 36 months).
• The societal and economic costs associated with the health impacts of the proposed bypass are estimated to be between R3.6 billion (low utilisation, 13 months) and R25 billion (high utilisation, 36 months).
• The CER asserts that allowing unabated SO2 emissions would likely be unconstitutional, citing the Pretoria High Court decision in Groundwork Trust and Another v Minister of Environmental Affairs and Others (the "Deadly Air case"). They argue that air quality on the Mpumalanga Highveld already violates section 24 of the Constitution.
• The CER proposes that the state should reject the bypass and instead use the available funds to accelerate the coal phase-out by investing in solar PV and wind installations. Specifically, they suggest a large rooftop solar PV programme for residential and industrial use in Mpumalanga, which would avoid the need for complex environmental authorisations.
• Technical assessments indicate that the bypass would result in an estimated 6-fold increase in SO2 emissions from the plant. Cumulative excess SO2 emissions are projected to be between 87,000 and 610,000 tonnes, with the high end representing nearly 40 years of normal operational emissions.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2023). PROPOSED RELEASE OF UNABATED SULPHUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM KUSILE COAL-FIRED POWER STATION. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Annexure-1-LAC-Letter-in-response-to-proposed-Kusile-FGD-Stack-Bypass.-9-March-2023.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. PROPOSED RELEASE OF UNABATED SULPHUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM KUSILE COAL-FIRED POWER STATION. 2023. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Annexure-1-LAC-Letter-in-response-to-proposed-Kusile-FGD-Stack-Bypass.-9-March-2023.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=PROPOSED RELEASE OF UNABATED SULPHUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM KUSILE COAL-FIRED POWER STATION |date=9 March 2023 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Annexure-1-LAC-Letter-in-response-to-proposed-Kusile-FGD-Stack-Bypass.-9-March-2023.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2023proposed, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{PROPOSED RELEASE OF UNABATED SULPHUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM KUSILE COAL-FIRED POWER STATION}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Annexure-1-LAC-Letter-in-response-to-proposed-Kusile-FGD-Stack-Bypass.-9-March-2023.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }