RESPONSE TO LETTER OF 16 JULY 2018 AND INPUT REGARDING THE JUST ENERGY TRANSITION TO A LOW-CARBON FUTURE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA

The Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle (LAC) Campaign, comprising the Centre for Environmental Rights, groundWork, and Earthlife Africa, submitted a response to Minister Jeff Radebe on 8 August 2018. The letter argues against the construction of new coal-fired power plants, specifically the Thabametsi and Khanyisa projects, asserting that they are not the least-cost option and would undermine South Africa's climate commitments and public health.

• The LAC Campaign asserts that no new coal or nuclear capacity is required for South Africa's energy mix based on modelling regarding affordability, security of supply, and carbon emission reductions.
• Coal power generation and mining consume 5% of South Africa's total water, with power generation accounting for 37% of water use in the Upper Olifants catchment. The document claims water for power generation is undervalued, with the electricity sector paying approximately R3.40/m3 compared to the average household rate of approximately R8/m3.
• The proposed Khanyisa power station in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, is criticized for using outdated subcritical technology and burning 'hazardous discard coal'. The LAC Campaign argues this will not solve the waste problem but will instead transfer the risk to air pollution and groundwater contamination via toxic coal ash.
• The coal IPPs (Independent Power Producers) are described as being among the worst greenhouse gas emitters globally, with emission intensities approximately 24% higher than the current Eskom fleet average and 58% higher than the Medupi and Kusile stations.
• The document argues that continuing with new coal plants contradicts South Africa's commitments under the Paris Agreement and its National Climate Change Response Policy, potentially exposing the population to higher climate risks.
• To achieve a just transition, the LAC Campaign advocates for a renewable energy industry that absorbs and upskills coal workers, the removal of barriers to small-scale community-based investments, and an active role for Eskom in renewable generation to avoid obsolescence.
• The LAC Campaign calls for the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) Bill to be retabled in Parliament to ensure open, non-discriminatory access to the transmission network and to facilitate decentralized generation.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2018). RESPONSE TO LETTER OF 16 JULY 2018 AND INPUT REGARDING THE JUST ENERGY TRANSITION TO A LOW-CARBON FUTURE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LAC-letter-to-Minister-Radebe-8-Aug-2018.docx.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. RESPONSE TO LETTER OF 16 JULY 2018 AND INPUT REGARDING THE JUST ENERGY TRANSITION TO A LOW-CARBON FUTURE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 2018. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LAC-letter-to-Minister-Radebe-8-Aug-2018.docx.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=RESPONSE TO LETTER OF 16 JULY 2018 AND INPUT REGARDING THE JUST ENERGY TRANSITION TO A LOW-CARBON FUTURE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA |date=8 August 2018 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LAC-letter-to-Minister-Radebe-8-Aug-2018.docx.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2018response, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{RESPONSE TO LETTER OF 16 JULY 2018 AND INPUT REGARDING THE JUST ENERGY TRANSITION TO A LOW-CARBON FUTURE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2018}, month = aug, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LAC-letter-to-Minister-Radebe-8-Aug-2018.docx.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }