record-10.1-to-10.2-15a55fe8ba93d644.pdf

This document is an executive summary and a set of meeting minutes from an Eskom Board Emergency Task Team submission dated 30 April 2014. It outlines the production and financial risks associated with Eskom's inability to comply with Atmospheric Emission Licences (AELs) and Minimum Emission Standards, proposing a mitigation strategy involving plant retrofits, operational changes, and government advocacy.

• Eskom faces significant air quality compliance risks, with 16 of its 19 coal- and liquid fuel-fired power stations having received new Atmospheric Emission Licences (AELs) as of 29 April 2014. While most can operate during normal conditions, Kriel and Grootvlei are currently taking load losses to maintain compliance.
• Intense production pressures have led to poor operating and maintenance practices, causing physical damage to plant equipment. At Kendal Unit 3, electrostatic precipitator (ESP) fields collapsed or bowed, with repairs estimated between R85 million and R100 million. At Majuba, fabric filter bag damage from fuel oil carry-over and high hopper levels resulted in 576 GWh of lost production between January and March 2014, costing R125 million.
• Eskom has experienced significant delays in executing emission abatement retrofits since its 2010 Air Quality Strategy. The Tutuka fabric filter plant (FFP) retrofit for the first unit moved from September 2014 to September 2017. The Kriel FFP retrofit date extended from 2017 to 2018. Low NOx burner retrofits are now projected to start in late 2018 or early 2019, causing Tutuka to miss two long outage opportunities.
• Eskom applied in February 2014 for a 5-year deferral (until 2025) of Minimum Emission Standard deadlines for a 57% compliance plan. The company warns it has no fall-back position if the application is refused, as it cannot accelerate retrofits or execute more than already committed. NGOs have opposed the application and threatened legal action against Eskom and the Department of Environmental Affairs.
• The total capital expenditure (CAPEX) required for these initiatives is estimated at approximately R72 billion in nominal terms. Eskom intends to include these compliance costs as a specific item in the MYPD4 tariff application for public comment.
• To mitigate risks, the Board Emergency Task Team resolved that plant health must be prioritised over production, meaning load losses should be incurred even in emergencies to avoid damaging ESPs or filter bags. Additionally, a new emissions dashboard will be developed, and 'section 30' incident declarations for high emissions will be restricted to a last resort requiring executive approval.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). record-10.1-to-10.2-15a55fe8ba93d644.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-10.1-to-10.2.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. record-10.1-to-10.2-15a55fe8ba93d644.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-10.1-to-10.2.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=record-10.1-to-10.2-15a55fe8ba93d644.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-10.1-to-10.2.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndrecord101to10215a55fe8ba93d644pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{record-10.1-to-10.2-15a55fe8ba93d644.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-10.1-to-10.2.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }