RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COAL IPPS  A STUDY BY THE ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE

The Life After Coal Campaign, comprising the Centre for Environmental Rights, groundWork, and Earthlife Africa, submitted a letter to the IPP Office of the Department of Energy on 8 June 2018. The letter highlights findings from a University of Cape Town Energy Research Centre (ERC) report which concludes that the proposed Thabametsi (557MW) and Khanyisa (300MW) coal-fired power stations are not required to meet South Africa's medium-term electricity demand and would increase system costs by R19.68 billion compared to a least-cost energy system. The campaign argues that these projects would increase greenhouse gas emissions by 205.7Mt CO2eq over 30 years, undermining the Paris Agreement and the government's emission mitigation plans. Furthermore, the letter asserts that these plants would exacerbate Eskom's financial crisis by reducing the output of existing, cheaper coal plants and increasing pressure on the utility. The campaign concludes that the projects fail the 'value for money' requirement of the 2011 Electricity Regulations and requests clarification on the deadlines for commercial and financial close.

• The proposed Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power stations would increase South Africa's energy system costs by R19.68 billion compared to a least-cost energy system.
• The coal IPPs are unnecessary for meeting medium-term electricity demand because wind, solar PV, and flexible gas generation are more economical alternatives.
• Over the 30-year period of the power purchase agreements, the coal IPPs would increase greenhouse gas emissions by 205.7Mt CO2eq, which would negate the Energy Efficiency Strategy to 2050 and frustrate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
• Building new coal plants during a period of low demand would increase pressure on Eskom, potentially accelerating a 'utility death spiral' and risking the South African economy by reducing the output of existing, cheaper coal plants.
• The proposed power stations are highly emission-intensive, with an intensity nearly 60% higher than that of Eskom's Medupi and Kusile plants.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2018). RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COAL IPPS  A STUDY BY THE ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/LAC-letter-to-IPP-Office-re-ERC-report-_8-June-2018.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COAL IPPS  A STUDY BY THE ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE. 2018. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/LAC-letter-to-IPP-Office-re-ERC-report-_8-June-2018.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COAL IPPS  A STUDY BY THE ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE |date=8 June 2018 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/LAC-letter-to-IPP-Office-re-ERC-report-_8-June-2018.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2018relevant, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COAL IPPS  A STUDY BY THE ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2018}, month = jun, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/LAC-letter-to-IPP-Office-re-ERC-report-_8-June-2018.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }