record-13.1-pg-37-51-e5c649172c49ed28.pdf

This document is an excerpt from Eskom's Air Quality Strategy (Unique Identifier: 32-1143), detailing the company's approach to ambient air quality monitoring, atmospheric dispersion modelling, stakeholder engagement, and research. It outlines specific emission targets for existing power stations, a retrofit plan to meet Minimum Emission Standards, and a strategy for coal beneficiation to reduce emissions.

• Eskom has established specific emission targets for existing power stations: particulate matter must be less than 50 mg/Nm³ for stations under 35 years old; sulphur dioxide must be less than 3500 mg/Nm³; and oxides of nitrogen should be less than the minimum NOx emission standard for existing plant (1100 mg/Nm³) for stations under 35 years old, where technically feasible.
• To comply with new Minimum Emission Standards, Eskom is implementing a phased retrofit plan. This includes installing fabric filter plants at Tutuka, Kriel, Matla, Grootvlei Units 2, 3, 4, Duvha Units 4-6, Lethabo, and Matimba; flue gas desulphurisation at Medupi and Kendal; and low NOx burners and over-fire air at Majuba, Duvha, Tutuka, and Kriel.
• The financial and resource requirements for retrofitting six stations with fabric filter plants, four with low NOx burners, and one with FGD are estimated at a CAPEX of R28 billion (in 2009 real terms) and an annual OPEX of R0.4 billion once operational. These retrofits will require 500,000 tons of sorbent per annum and result in a capacity loss of 160 MW.
• Eskom's ambient air quality monitoring strategy includes maintaining SANAS accreditation and ensuring real-time data availability. The network is reviewed every three years, and stations may be decommissioned if no significant impact from a source is measured for three consecutive years. The cost to purchase equipment and housing for a station measuring SO2, NO, and PM10 is approximately R600,000, with annual operating costs of R400,000.
• Eskom is exploring coal beneficiation—specifically removing the "stone" fraction (>2 g/cm³)—as a cost-effective alternative to retrofitting boilers. This process is intended to improve combustion efficiencies and reduce emissions of SO2, NOx, CO, and particulates, as demonstrated at Lethabo Power Station.
• The air quality research programme, which had a budget of R8.3 million in the 2009/10 financial year (excluding coal beneficiation and research monitoring stations), focuses on emission control technologies, atmospheric dispersion modelling, and atmospheric deposition. A key focus is developing a framework to monitor the long-term impact of emissions on soils, surface waters, and ecosystems in the Lephalale region and the Highveld.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). record-13.1-pg-37-51-e5c649172c49ed28.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-13.1-pg-37-51.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. record-13.1-pg-37-51-e5c649172c49ed28.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-13.1-pg-37-51.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=record-13.1-pg-37-51-e5c649172c49ed28.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-13.1-pg-37-51.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndrecord131pg3751e5c649172c49ed28pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{record-13.1-pg-37-51-e5c649172c49ed28.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record-13.1-pg-37-51.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }