record13.1-pg13-24-3d054b4bb2b2c106.pdf

This document is an excerpt from Eskom's Air Quality Strategy, detailing the company's plan to align its power station emissions with the South African Minimum Emission Standards (MES). It outlines specific emission targets for particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, while identifying significant resource constraints—including water, sorbent availability, and financial costs—that necessitate a phased and prioritised approach to retrofitting abatement technologies.

• The South African Minimum Emission Standards, enacted on 1 April 2010, establish 'existing plant' standards to be met by 2015 and more stringent 'new plant' limits to be met by 2020. While no 'grand-fathering' is provided, the Department of Environmental Affairs has indicated that successive extensions of the compliance period may be requested based on the impact on ambient air quality.
• Eskom's emission reduction targets include achieving particulate matter (PM) emissions of less than 50 mg/Nm³ for all stations under 35 years old. For sulphur dioxide (SO₂), existing plants aim for less than 3500 mg/Nm³, while new plants (built after 2002) target less than 400 mg/Nm³, subject to water availability.
• The reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) is considered a lower priority than SO₂ and PM because NOₓ levels on the Highveld are currently well below ambient limits. However, low NOₓ burner retrofits are planned for stations not meeting the existing plant standard of 1100 mg/Nm³, specifically prioritising Majuba, Matla, Tutuka, and Kriel due to regional ozone issues.
• Significant resource and system constraints hinder the implementation of emission retrofits. Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) retrofits on the Highveld are delayed until at least 2020, pending water from Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Project. Additionally, South Africa's limestone output (approximately 1 million tons/annum) is limited compared to the requirement of 500,000 tons/annum for a single 6 by 600 MW station.
• The estimated capital expenditure (CAPEX) for retrofitting a 6 by 600 MW power station is R9-10 billion for wet FGD, R2 billion for low NOₓ burners with over-fire air, and R1.7 billion for fabric filter plants (FFP). These retrofits also result in capacity losses: 1.5% for FGD and 0.5% for FFP.
• Eskom has developed a specific particulate emission reduction plan with a medium-term target for stations under 35 years old to achieve emissions below 50 mg/Nm³. This includes planned FFP retrofits at Tutuka starting in 2013, with other retrofits at Kriel, Matla, and Grootvlei being considered.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). record13.1-pg13-24-3d054b4bb2b2c106.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record13.1-pg13-24.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. record13.1-pg13-24-3d054b4bb2b2c106.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record13.1-pg13-24.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=record13.1-pg13-24-3d054b4bb2b2c106.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record13.1-pg13-24.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndrecord131pg13243d054b4bb2b2c106pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{record13.1-pg13-24-3d054b4bb2b2c106.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Record13.1-pg13-24.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }