annexure-8_rod-medupi-sept-20061-45785b3ada174203.pdf

The document is a Record of Decision (ROD) issued by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) on September 21, 2006. It grants conditional authorization to Eskom Holdings Limited: Generation Division for the construction of a 4800MW coal-fired power station and associated infrastructure near Lephalale, while specifically excluding authorization for waste and ash disposal pending further investigation into alternatives.

• The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism granted conditional authorization for the construction of a 4800MW dry-cooled, coal-fired pulverised fuel power station near Lephalale. The project includes the power station on approximately 700ha of the farm Naauwontkomen 509 LQ, an ashing facility on 500-1000ha of the farm Eenzaamheid 687 LQ, a coal supply conveyor belt, the re-routing of Steenbokpan Road, and an overland ash conveyor belt.
• The authorization specifically excludes the disposal of waste, including the establishment or expansion of facilities for ashes and building rubble. The Department determined that further information on alternatives for ash disposal is required before an informed decision can be made, noting that investigations into alternatives such as backfilling at the Grootegeluk open cast coal mine have not sufficiently progressed.
• The project is expected to cause significant environmental impacts, including the loss of approximately 1,500 hectares of vegetation due to pre-construction site clearing. Additionally, the burning of coal is predicted to release significant amounts of greenhouse gases (Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide) and air pollutants including Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and mercury.
• The Department noted that ambient air quality standards are already being exceeded in the area of the proposed power station and the Marapong residential area. It predicted that SO2 levels from the new station would cause health effects in Marapong. Consequently, Eskom is required to implement a continuous monitoring programme for pollutants in Marapong and surrounding areas and must install SO2 abatement measures if monitoring indicates non-compliance with standards, including for the existing Matimba Power Station.
• The authorization is contingent upon the establishment of an Environmental Monitoring Committee (EMC) and the appointment of a qualified Environmental Control Officer (ECO). The EMC must include an independent chairperson, an ecologist, representatives from the Marapong and Lephalale communities, an ECO, and a senior site manager. The ECO is tasked with daily monitoring of compliance and submitting bi-monthly reports to the Director-General of DEAT.
• The project is justified as part of Eskom's new capacity installation programme to meet future base load electricity demands of South Africa and improve the security of supply to the national grid system by 2010.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). annexure-8_rod-medupi-sept-20061-45785b3ada174203.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Annexure-8_RoD-Medupi-Sept-20061.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. annexure-8_rod-medupi-sept-20061-45785b3ada174203.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Annexure-8_RoD-Medupi-Sept-20061.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=annexure-8_rod-medupi-sept-20061-45785b3ada174203.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Annexure-8_RoD-Medupi-Sept-20061.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrightsndannexure8rodmedupisept2006145785b3ada174203pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{annexure-8\_rod-medupi-sept-20061-45785b3ada174203.pdf}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Annexure-8_RoD-Medupi-Sept-20061.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }