index-and-record-1.1-to-1.2-5986dbe9a7554673.pdf

This document is a response from Eskom to a request for information by the Centre for Environmental Rights. It reveals that Eskom does not have standalone decommissioning or emission reduction plans for its coal stations, but instead manages these through broader air quality strategies. A 2010 strategy included in the text outlines a prioritised approach to meeting Minimum Emission Standards, highlighting significant constraints such as water scarcity in the Highveld and the high cost of retrofits (estimated at R28 billion CAPEX in 2009 terms), while suggesting 'offset projects' as a cheaper alternative to technical upgrades.

• Eskom does not maintain separate documents for decommissioning plans, compliance roadmaps, or emission reduction plans for its 15 coal-fired power stations. Instead, these matters are addressed in the 2014 application for postponement of minimum emissions standards, the 2015 Eskom Air Quality Strategy, and the 2016 Air Quality Improvement Plan.
• The Eskom Air Quality Strategy aims to reduce atmospheric emissions and ensure compliance with the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, No 39 of 2004 (NEMAQA) and Minimum Emission Standards (MES). The strategy prioritises interventions in the following order: improved operational management, optimisation of existing technologies, better coal quality contracting, coal beneficiation, offsets, and finally retrofits.
• The implementation of emission retrofits is constrained by water availability, specifically noting that Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) retrofits in the Highveld can only occur from 2020 at the earliest, pending water from Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Project. Other constraints include sorbent supply, low reserve margins limiting outage schedules, and deteriorating coal quality.
• Eskom proposes the use of 'offset projects' as a more cost-effective alternative to retrofitting existing power stations for improving ambient air quality. Examples of such projects include electrification, improving house energy efficiency, tarring roads, and planting vegetation.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). index-and-record-1.1-to-1.2-5986dbe9a7554673.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Index-and-Record-1.1-to-1.2.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. index-and-record-1.1-to-1.2-5986dbe9a7554673.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Index-and-Record-1.1-to-1.2.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=index-and-record-1.1-to-1.2-5986dbe9a7554673.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Index-and-Record-1.1-to-1.2.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrightsndindexandrecord11to125986dbe9a7554673pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{index-and-record-1.1-to-1.2-5986dbe9a7554673.pdf}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Index-and-Record-1.1-to-1.2.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }