ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS REGARDING THE VARIATION OF THE ATMOSPHERIC EMISSION LICENCE FOR ESKOM’S KRIEL POWER STATION

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several community and environmental groups, submitted a response to the Nkangala District Municipality opposing Eskom's application to vary the atmospheric emission licence for the Kriel Power Station. The CER argues that the variation would permit increased emissions of particulate matter (PM10) and mercury, leading to significant public health risks and economic costs, while challenging Eskom's dispersion modelling and cost calculations for abatement technology.

• The CER alleges that Kriel Power Station is operating with a malfunctioning particulate matter (PM) emission control system, noting that particulate matter emissions increased from an average around 125mg/Nm3 (June-December 2011) to approximately 250mg/Nm3 between February 2012 and October 2013, with frequent peaks of 450mg/Nm3.
• The CER estimates that if the variation request is granted, it would allow for 14,000 tons of excess PM10 emissions over the period compared to full compliance with the 125 mg/m3 limit.
• The document states that installing particulate control devices at Kriel would increase the mercury removal rate from 10% to 50%, which would reduce annual mercury emissions by 900 kg; without these devices, total excess mercury emissions over a 15-month period would be 1,100 kg.
• The CER disputes Eskom's cost calculations for a fabric filter plant retrofit, arguing that Eskom's method double accounts for the difference between US Dollar/South African Rand exchange rates and inflation rates, thereby failing to accurately reflect costs.
• The CER challenges Eskom's dispersion modelling, asserting that Eskom failed to provide an atmospheric impact report to support claims that Kendal emissions do not significantly contribute to ambient particulate levels near Kriel, and that Eskom's data does not prove its contribution to ambient PM levels in Kriel Village is negligible.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2014). ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS REGARDING THE VARIATION OF THE ATMOSPHERIC EMISSION LICENCE FOR ESKOM’S KRIEL POWER STATION. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Annexure-2_CER-additional-submission-on-variation-of-Kriel-AEL_16-Jan-20141.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS REGARDING THE VARIATION OF THE ATMOSPHERIC EMISSION LICENCE FOR ESKOM’S KRIEL POWER STATION. 2014. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Annexure-2_CER-additional-submission-on-variation-of-Kriel-AEL_16-Jan-20141.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS REGARDING THE VARIATION OF THE ATMOSPHERIC EMISSION LICENCE FOR ESKOM’S KRIEL POWER STATION |date=16 January 2014 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Annexure-2_CER-additional-submission-on-variation-of-Kriel-AEL_16-Jan-20141.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2014additional, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS REGARDING THE VARIATION OF THE ATMOSPHERIC EMISSION LICENCE FOR ESKOM’S KRIEL POWER STATION}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2014}, month = jan, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Annexure-2_CER-additional-submission-on-variation-of-Kriel-AEL_16-Jan-20141.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }