record-13.1-pg-1-12-bfcc809d073ef84e.pdf

This document is an internal Air Quality Strategy from Eskom, a South African state-owned electricity utility. It outlines a framework to reduce atmospheric emissions of particulates, sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and heavy metals from its power stations to ensure compliance with South African legislation, specifically the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, No 39 of 2004 (NEMAQA). The strategy details specific emission targets based on plant age, proposed technical retrofits, resource requirements, and the integration of air quality management with water, coal, and climate change strategies.

• Eskom has established specific emission reduction targets for particulate matter based on the age of the power station: less than 50 mg/Nm³ for existing stations under 35 years old, less than 100 mg/Nm³ for those over 35 years old, and less than 30 mg/Nm³ for stations commissioned after 2017.
• Sulphur dioxide (SO2) targets are tiered by commissioning date: existing stations must be below 3500 mg/Nm³, stations commissioned between 2002 and 2017 below 400 mg/Nm³, and those commissioned after 2017 below 200 mg/Nm³.
• Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) targets include a goal of staying below the minimum emission standard for existing stations (1100 mg/Nm³) for plants under 35 years old if technically feasible, below 650 mg/Nm³ for plants commissioned between 2002 and 2017, and below 500 mg/Nm³ for plants commissioned after 2017.
• To achieve these targets, Eskom recommends installing Fabric Filter Plants (FFPs) at Tutuka, Kriel, Matla, and Grootvlei (Units 2, 3, 4), and Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) at Medupi. Further retrofits or upgrades at Duvha, Lethabo, Matimba, and Kendal are subject to feasibility studies.
• The estimated financial resources required for existing power station retrofits (including 6 FFP retrofits, 4 low NOx burner retrofits, and 1 FGD retrofit) are R28 billion in CAPEX and R0.4 billion per annum in OPEX, based on 2009 real terms.
• Eskom identifies the Vaal Triangle and the Highveld as national Priority Areas where ambient air quality standards may be exceeded and specific management action is required under NEMAQA.
• The strategy incorporates 'offset projects' as a potentially more cost-effective alternative to capital-intensive retrofit projects for improving ambient air quality in Priority Areas, specifically weighing these against FGD retrofits at Matla, Matimba, and potentially Kendal.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). record-13.1-pg-1-12-bfcc809d073ef84e.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-13.1-pg-1-12.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. record-13.1-pg-1-12-bfcc809d073ef84e.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-13.1-pg-1-12.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=record-13.1-pg-1-12-bfcc809d073ef84e.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-13.1-pg-1-12.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndrecord131pg112bfcc809d073ef84epdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{record-13.1-pg-1-12-bfcc809d073ef84e.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-13.1-pg-1-12.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }