matimba-health-risk-assessment_1-55e158bd74480a0c.pdf

This November 2006 report by Airshed Planning Professionals (Pty) Ltd, commissioned by Eskom Holdings Limited, assesses the inhalation-related health risks associated with the existing Matimba Power Station and the proposed Project Alpha power station in the Lephalale area of Limpopo Province. The study focuses on particulate matter (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), utilizing CALPUFF dispersion modelling and 2001 census population data to estimate premature mortalities and respiratory hospital admissions.

• Inhalation-related health risks from Matimba Power Station and other local sources are predicted to be relatively low, primarily because only about 22,000 people lived within approximately 25 km of the station according to 2001 Census data, with most residing upwind. These sources are estimated to cause approximately 1.5 premature deaths and 140 respiratory hospital admissions annually.
• The existing Matimba Power Station is the primary driver of predicted health impacts, accounting for approximately 80% of premature mortalities and 50% of respiratory hospital admissions.
• Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is the most significant pollutant regarding mortality, causing 82% of total non-accidental deaths and 38% of respiratory hospital admissions. PM10 accounts for 17% of mortality and 57% of hospital admissions, while nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is the least significant, contributing approximately 1% of mortality and 5% of hospital admissions.
• The implementation of Project Alpha is predicted to double the health risks, increasing premature deaths from 1.5 to 3 and respiratory hospital admissions from 144 to 300 per year. However, applying SO2 controls with 90% efficiency for Project Alpha could avoid approximately 1 mortality and 50 respiratory hospital admissions annually.
• The highest predicted health risks are expected to occur in areas with denser residential settlements, specifically Marapong and Onverwacht.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). matimba-health-risk-assessment_1-55e158bd74480a0c.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Matimba-Health-Risk-Assessment_1.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. matimba-health-risk-assessment_1-55e158bd74480a0c.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Matimba-Health-Risk-Assessment_1.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=matimba-health-risk-assessment_1-55e158bd74480a0c.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Matimba-Health-Risk-Assessment_1.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndmatimbahealthriskassessment155e158bd74480a0cpdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{matimba-health-risk-assessment\_1-55e158bd74480a0c.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Matimba-Health-Risk-Assessment_1.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }