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

The Life After Coal Campaign argues that the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power stations are unnecessary and harmful, citing an ERC report that finds they would cost South Africa an additional R19.68 billion compared to a least-cost system and increase GHG emissions by 205.7Mt CO2eq over 30 years. The campaign asserts these projects would undermine South Africa's Paris Agreement commitments and exacerbate Eskom's financial crisis.

• The University of Cape Town's Energy Research Centre (ERC) report indicates that the Thabametsi (557MW) and Khanyisa (300MW) coal-fired power stations would cost South Africa an additional R19.68 billion compared to a least-cost energy system.
• The coal IPPs are deemed unnecessary for medium-term electricity demand because wind, solar, and flexible gas generation are more economical alternatives.
• The two coal IPPs are projected to increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 205.7Mt CO2eq over the 30-year period of their power purchase agreements, which would negate the government's GHG emission mitigation plans and frustrate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
• Building these plants could accelerate a 'utility death spiral' for Eskom by reducing the output of its existing fleet during a period of low demand, thereby risking the electricity supply industry and the broader South African economy.
• The proposed coal IPPs are highly emission-intensive, with an intensity nearly 60% higher than Eskom's Medupi and Kusile plants, and they cost R1.03 per kilowatt hour, which is significantly more than the latest renewable IPPs.

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} }