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

A letter from the Life After Coal Campaign to South Africa's Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, presenting findings from a University of Cape Town Energy Research Centre (ERC) report. The letter argues that the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power stations are financially and environmentally harmful, unnecessary for meeting electricity demand, and would undermine South Africa's climate commitments.

• The Thabametsi (557MW) and Khanyisa (300MW) coal-fired power stations would increase costs for South Africa by R19.68 billion compared to a least-cost energy system.
• The coal IPPs are not necessary to meet medium-term electricity demand because wind, solar, 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, potentially negating the government's Energy Efficiency Strategy to 2050 and frustrating commitments under the Paris Agreement.
• Building new coal plants during a period of low demand could increase pressure on Eskom, potentially accelerating a 'utility death spiral' and risking the South African economy. In a scenario where South Africa meets low-PPD emissions constraints to 2050, the Eskom Kusile power station would be stranded by 2050.
• The coal IPP price of R1.03 per kilowatt hour is significantly more expensive than the latest renewable IPPs, and the proposed plants have an emission intensity nearly 60% higher than Eskom's Medupi and Kusile stations.

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-Min-Molewa-re-ERC-report_4-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-Min-Molewa-re-ERC-report_4-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=4 June 2018 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/LAC-letter-to-Min-Molewa-re-ERC-report_4-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-Min-Molewa-re-ERC-report_4-June-2018.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }