00206BAAD8FC200514110110.pdf

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment of South Africa issued a decision on 12 May 2020 regarding an objection by Eskom Kendal Power Station to a Compliance Notice (CN). The CN, issued on 10 December 2019, addressed failures to comply with the Atmospheric Emissions Licence (AEL), specifically regarding particulate matter emissions. The Minister modified the CN to allow Eskom to cease operation of either Unit 1 or Unit 5 (rather than both simultaneously) to mitigate load-shedding risks and extended the deadline for submitting a specialist Plan of Action for Units 2, 3, 4, and 6.

• The Minister confirmed the instruction for Eskom Kendal Power Station to cease operation of generating units, but modified the requirement to avoid simultaneous shutdowns of Units 1 and 5 to protect national electricity supply and limit load-shedding. Eskom must cease operation of either Unit 1 or Unit 5 within 30 calendar days of the decision.
• The Minister extended the deadline for Eskom to submit a Plan of Action for Units 2, 3, 4, and 6. This plan must be compiled by a suitably qualified independent specialist and submitted within 60 calendar days from the date of the objection decision to ensure the units operate within the Atmospheric Emissions Licence (AEL) requirements.
• The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries found that Eskom Kendal Power Station has a history of gross non-compliance with its AEL since 2016, specifically regarding particulate matter exceedances that threaten human health and the environment.
• The Department disputed Eskom's claims regarding the emission performance of Unit 1, noting that monthly reports from January 2019 to May 2019 showed the unit exceeded limits every month, reaching as high as 1312mg/Nm³ in April 2019, despite Eskom's claim that it was operating below 100mg/Nm³.
• The Minister noted that the decision to avoid simultaneous shutdowns of Units 1 and 5 was influenced by the prevailing circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). 00206BAAD8FC200514110110.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Minister’s-Decision-on-Kendal-enforcement_12-May-2020.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. 00206BAAD8FC200514110110.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Minister’s-Decision-on-Kendal-enforcement_12-May-2020.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=00206BAAD8FC200514110110.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Minister’s-Decision-on-Kendal-enforcement_12-May-2020.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrightsnd00206baad8fc200514110110pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{00206BAAD8FC200514110110.pdf}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Minister’s-Decision-on-Kendal-enforcement_12-May-2020.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }