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

The Life After Coal Campaign submitted a letter to the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs highlighting findings from an Energy Research Centre (ERC) report. The report concludes that the proposed Thabametsi (557MW) and Khanyisa (300MW) coal-fired power stations are unnecessary for meeting 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 South Africa's Paris Agreement commitments and the Energy Efficiency Strategy to 2050. Furthermore, the document asserts that these plants would put pressure on Eskom, potentially accelerating a 'utility death spiral' and risking the broader economy.

• The proposed Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power stations are not required to meet South Africa's medium-term electricity demand because alternatives such as solar PV, wind, and flexible gas generation are more economical. Their inclusion would cost the country an additional R19.68 billion compared to a least-cost energy system.
• The coal IPPs would increase greenhouse gas emissions by 205.7Mt CO2eq over the 30-year duration of the power purchase agreements. This increase would negate the savings from the Energy Efficiency Strategy to 2050 and frustrate South Africa's commitments under the Paris Agreement.
• Building new coal plants during a period of low demand increases pressure on Eskom by reducing the output of its existing fleet, which could accelerate a 'utility death spiral' and endanger the South African economy.

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-PCEA-re-ERC-report_7-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-PCEA-re-ERC-report_7-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=7 June 2018 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/LAC-letter-to-PCEA-re-ERC-report_7-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-PCEA-re-ERC-report_7-June-2018.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }