COMMENTS ON POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF PROPOSED NEW COAL GENERATION UNDER THE SOUTH AFRICA 2019 INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN

This report by Dr. Ranajit Sahu evaluates the technical and environmental feasibility of adding 1,500 MW of new coal generation as proposed in South Africa's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The author argues that 'clean coal' is a myth, asserting that any new capacity will inevitably cause significant air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of the high-efficiency, low-emission (HELE) technologies employed.

• The 2019 IRP proposes adding 1,500 MW of new coal generation in two phases: 750 MW in 2023 and 750 MW in 2027. However, the author concludes it is 'unreasonable' to expect any amount of new coal generation to come online by 2023 due to the time required for design, procurement, and implementation.
• Ultra-supercritical (USC) efficiency is identified as the highest feasible thermal cycle efficiency for the proposed 1,500 MW of coal. Advanced ultra-supercritical (AUSC) plants are deemed unattainable because they require nickel-based superalloys that have not yet demonstrated long-term acceptable performance globally.
• Carbon capture (CC) technologies are described as 'unproven and cost-prohibitive at scale' and are unlikely to be implemented. The author notes that no commercial-scale coal-fired power plants globally currently operate with successful carbon capture, and existing demonstration projects in Canada and the US have faced significant operational and financial failures.
• The report argues that 'clean coal' is a myth because emissions of toxic organic compounds, trace metals, and acid gases cannot be entirely eliminated. Furthermore, the author suggests that South Africa is unlikely to implement the full suite of effective pollution controls (such as wet flue gas desulfurization and selective catalytic reduction) due to high capital and operating costs.
• Circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technology, which the IRP prefers for its ability to handle low-quality coal, is noted to emit significantly more nitrous oxide (N2O)—a potent greenhouse gas with 300 times the warming potential of CO2—than pulverized coal technologies.
• The environmental impact of new coal generation extends beyond the power plant to the entire supply chain, including coal mining, transportation, and the disposal of coal combustion residuals (ash), all of which contribute to significant air, water, and waste pollution.

APA

Sahu, R. (. (2021). COMMENTS ON POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF PROPOSED NEW COAL GENERATION UNDER THE SOUTH AFRICA 2019 INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN. Centre for Environmental Rights. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Annexure-B_SAHU_SA_2019_IRP.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Sahu, Ranajit (Ron). COMMENTS ON POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF PROPOSED NEW COAL GENERATION UNDER THE SOUTH AFRICA 2019 INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN. Centre for Environmental Rights, 2021. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Annexure-B_SAHU_SA_2019_IRP.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sahu |first1=Ranajit (Ron) |title=COMMENTS ON POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF PROPOSED NEW COAL GENERATION UNDER THE SOUTH AFRICA 2019 INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN |publisher=Centre for Environmental Rights |date=July 2021 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Annexure-B_SAHU_SA_2019_IRP.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sahu2021comments, author = {Sahu, Ranajit (Ron)}, title = {{COMMENTS ON POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF PROPOSED NEW COAL GENERATION UNDER THE SOUTH AFRICA 2019 INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Annexure-B_SAHU_SA_2019_IRP.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }