REQUEST FOR MEETING TO DISCUSS WAY FORWARD ON ESKOM’S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH EMISSION STANDARDS

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is calling for a meeting with the Department of Environmental Affairs to address evidence of widespread non-compliance by Eskom power stations with their atmospheric emission licences (AELs). Based on a report by Professor Eugene Cairncross analyzing data from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, the CER identifies multiple stations likely exceeding PM10, NOx, and SO2 limits. The CER argues that Eskom is the largest emitter in the Highveld Priority Area and recommends stricter reporting requirements, including the use of daily average concentrations rather than monthly aggregates, to accurately monitor compliance.

• An analysis of emissions from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 indicates that 7 out of 12 power stations—Duvha, Grootvlei, Kendal, Komati, Kriel, Matla, and Lethabo—were likely or very likely non-compliant with their licensed PM10 limit values.
• Specific evidence of non-compliance includes 37 violations of licensed PM10 limit values at the Kendal station between May and September 2015, and regular exceedances of the 100 mg/Nm3 PM10 limit at the Duhva station during 2014/2015.
• There are significant disparities in emission intensities among plants: the three highest PM10 emitters (Tutuka, Kriel, and Grootvlei) emit 10 times more PM10 per GWh than the three lowest emitters (Hendrina, Matimba, and Majuba). Additionally, Matimba and Hendrina are the highest SO2 polluters, emitting 70% more than the lowest polluters (Matla and Majuba).
• The CER recommends that annual reports be amended to include daily average pollutant concentrations because monthly aggregate emissions are insufficient to accurately determine compliance with AEL limit values.
• Eskom is identified as the largest emitter in the Highveld Priority Area (HPA), where it operates twelve power stations, including Kusile, in a region where ambient air quality standards remain out of compliance.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2017). REQUEST FOR MEETING TO DISCUSS WAY FORWARD ON ESKOM’S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH EMISSION STANDARDS. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CER-letter-to-DEA-re-Eskom-non-compliance_31-May-2017.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. REQUEST FOR MEETING TO DISCUSS WAY FORWARD ON ESKOM’S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH EMISSION STANDARDS. 2017. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CER-letter-to-DEA-re-Eskom-non-compliance_31-May-2017.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=REQUEST FOR MEETING TO DISCUSS WAY FORWARD ON ESKOM’S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH EMISSION STANDARDS |date=31 May 2017 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CER-letter-to-DEA-re-Eskom-non-compliance_31-May-2017.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2017request, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{REQUEST FOR MEETING TO DISCUSS WAY FORWARD ON ESKOM’S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH EMISSION STANDARDS}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2017}, month = may, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CER-letter-to-DEA-re-Eskom-non-compliance_31-May-2017.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }